Employment in China
China: Employment was 740,410 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
740,410
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
1st
of 174 countries
All-time high
774,510
in 2015
All-time low
207,290
in 1952
Years of data
52
1952–2023
Employment in China, 1952–2023
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment in China is 740,410, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% on the previous year and down 3.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in China peaked at 774,510 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 207,290, in 1952.
China ranks 1st of 174 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 52 years of available data.
Employment in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | 207,290 | — |
| 1957 | 237,710 | +14.7% |
| 1962 | 259,100 | +9.0% |
| 1965 | 286,700 | +10.7% |
| 1970 | 344,320 | +20.1% |
| 1975 | 381,680 | +10.9% |
| 1978 | 401,520 | +5.2% |
| 1979 | 410,240 | +2.2% |
| 1980 | 423,610 | +3.3% |
| 1981 | 437,250 | +3.2% |
| 1982 | 452,950 | +3.6% |
| 1983 | 464,360 | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 481,970 | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 498,730 | +3.5% |
| 1986 | 512,820 | +2.8% |
| 1987 | 527,830 | +2.9% |
| 1988 | 543,340 | +2.9% |
| 1989 | 553,290 | +1.8% |
| 1990 | 639,090 | +15.5% |
| 1991 | 654,910 | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 661,520 | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 668,080 | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 674,550 | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 680,650 | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 689,500 | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 698,200 | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 706,370 | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 713,940 | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 644,785 | -9.7% |
| 2001 | 727,970 | +12.9% |
| 2002 | 732,800 | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 737,360 | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 742,640 | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 746,470 | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 749,780 | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 753,210 | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 755,640 | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 758,280 | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 761,050 | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 764,200 | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 767,040 | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 769,770 | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 772,530 | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 774,510 | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 762,450 | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 760,580 | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 757,820 | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 754,470 | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 750,640 | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 746,520 | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 733,510 | -1.7% |
| 2023 | 740,410 | +0.9% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 740,410 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3,125, 236.9× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- China's 740,410 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,872, 395.5× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 222,500 | 207,290 | 237,710 | 2 |
| 1960s | 272,900 | 259,100 | 286,700 | 2 |
| 1970s | 384,440 | 344,320 | 410,240 | 4 |
| 1980s | 489,615 | 423,610 | 553,290 | 10 |
| 1990s | 678,681 | 639,090 | 713,940 | 10 |
| 2000s | 734,894 | 644,785 | 758,280 | 10 |
| 2010s | 764,442 | 754,470 | 774,510 | 10 |
| 2020s | 742,770 | 733,510 | 750,640 | 4 |
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 740,410 in 2023, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 774,510 in 2015.
- What is the lowest employment recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 207,290 in 1952.
- How does China rank for employment?
- China ranks 1st out of 174 countries with data for 2023.
- Is employment rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.8%. 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 (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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