Employment rate in China
China: Employment rate was 61.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment rate in China, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
China recorded 61.6% for employment rate in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.6% on the previous year and down 6.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate in China peaked at 76.8% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 61.6%, in 2025.
China ranks 61st of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 74.5% | 72.3% | 76.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 69.6% | 67.9% | 71.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 66.2% | 64.3% | 67.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.5% | 61.6% | 64.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 58 Japan 61.9% compare
- 59 Ireland 61.8% compare
- 60 Saint Lucia 61.8% compare
- 62 Dominican Republic 61.5% compare
- 63 Democratic Republic of Congo 61.5% compare
- 64 Zimbabwe 61.4% compare
More work & labour data for China
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 59.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 49.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 69.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 78.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 74.0% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 84.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 47.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment rate in China?
- Employment rate in China was 61.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 76.8% in 1991.
- What is the lowest employment rate recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 61.6% in 2025.
- How does China rank for employment rate?
- China ranks 61st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.