Republished with full copyright permissions from The Washington Daily Chronicle.

China’s youth unemployment rate has been on a worrisome trajectory, reaching record highs in recent months. In April, 20.4% of 16–24-year-olds were unable to find jobs, a figure that increased to 20.8% in May and further rose to an unprecedented 21.3% in June. This rising trend is particularly concerning for the world’s second-largest economy, which already grapples with the challenges posed by a rapidly aging population.

However, the July youth unemployment rate will not set a new record, not because a solution has been found, but due to the decision by China’s National Bureau of Statistics to suspend disclosing the country’s youth joblessness rate. The bureau cited a need to reassess its methodology, particularly considering the inclusion of students in youth unemployment calculations, though only those actively seeking work are currently considered unemployed.

This development suggests that previous released numbers may have been inflated. In fact, some experts argue that the bureau has consistently underestimated China’s actual youth joblessness rate. Discrepancies arise from the fact that while most countries and international organizations, including the World Bank and OECD, use a 15–24 age range for calculating youth unemployment, China only considers individuals aged 16–24. Moreover, reports indicate that universities in China have pressured recent graduates to misrepresent their employment status, thus distorting the true figures. The Ministry of Education has vowed to address this issue.

China’s statistics keepers have faced criticism for other discrepancies as well. For instance, it was revealed that anyone working at least one hour per week is considered employed, though this does not align with the international standard set by the International Labour Organization.

The monthly publication of youth unemployment rates, which began in 2018, initially aimed to align China’s reporting with international standards. However, the current data paints a bleak picture, prompting the government’s reluctance to divulge the information. Alfred Wu, an associate professor specializing in Chinese governance, suggests that China’s frequent manipulation of data is a form of propaganda aimed at diverting attention from pressing issues.

China’s lack of transparency has long been criticized, with accusations of underrepresentation of COVID-19 infection numbers and death tolls being particularly prominent during the pandemic. Earlier this year, Chinese authorities restricted international access to the country’s public data, hindering researchers from analyzing science and technology policies.

Suspending the release of youth unemployment data may lessen public attention on the issue, but it does not negate the problem’s existence. Shan Wei, a senior research fellow of Chinese politics, emphasizes that even though the data is not being published, youth unemployment remains a pressing concern. If unaccounted groups, such as those who have given up on job searching or resist societal pressures, were included in the calculations, the actual youth unemployment rate could be as high as 46.5 percent.

Authorities have responded by urging youths to lower their expectations and endure hardships, which has only fueled resentment among those who were promised that hard work would lead to success.

Hence, the decision to halt the release of youth unemployment statistics is unlikely to alleviate the growing discontent. On the contrary, it has already attracted cheeky comments on Chinese social media platforms, reflecting the public’s skepticism towards this policy. Criticism such as, “This is by far the only effective policy dealing with high youth unemployment” and sarcastic exchanges about keeping scores hidden illustrate the frustration and disillusionment prevailing among China’s younger generation.

The discontinuation of youth unemployment statistics publication highlights the need for a comprehensive and transparent approach to address the joblessness concerns. Over the long term, the legitimacy of the Chinese government could be at stake unless effective measures are taken not only to control societal discontent but also to improve youth employment prospects.