Employment in China
China: Employment was 737,575 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in China, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment in China is 737,575, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in China peaked at 754,056 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 641,896, in 1991.
China ranks 1st of 188 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 641,896 | — |
| 1992 | 647,800 | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 650,880 | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 654,593 | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 659,359 | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 664,428 | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 670,277 | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 676,340 | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 681,689 | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 687,555 | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 692,447 | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 698,674 | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 705,324 | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 714,794 | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 723,847 | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 732,107 | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 737,554 | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 739,528 | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 741,916 | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 746,470 | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 751,268 | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 751,759 | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 752,004 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 752,969 | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 753,541 | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 754,056 | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 752,942 | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 751,997 | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 748,845 | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 730,520 | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 753,076 | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 738,500 | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 744,649 | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 738,287 | -0.9% |
| 2025 | 737,575 | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 660,807 | 641,896 | 681,689 | 9 |
| 2000s | 717,375 | 687,555 | 741,916 | 10 |
| 2010s | 751,585 | 746,470 | 754,056 | 10 |
| 2020s | 740,434 | 730,520 | 753,076 | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More work & labour data for China
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.65 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1.74 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.57 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.11 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.0615 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 1.12 million 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 275,362 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 319,567 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 326,230 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 645,797 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in China?
- Employment in China was 737,575 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 754,056 in 2016.
- What is the lowest employment recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 641,896 in 1991.
- How does China rank for employment?
- China ranks 1st out of 188 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Employment (ILO modelled estimates). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. The employed comprise all persons of working age who, during a specified brief period, were in one of the following categories: a) paid employment (whether at work or with a job but not at work); or b) self-employment (whether at work or with an enterprise but not at work). Data disaggregated by economic activity are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) available for that year. Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISIC. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.