China Center Labor Market Quarterly Update: 2019 Q2 in Review—Pressure on Job Growth Continues to Increase

Although white-collar job demand increased, and consumers generally remain confident about their future job prospects, Q2 2019 data on urban job creation, city labor demand, PMI employment sub-indexes, and unemployment all point toward intensifying downward pressure on job growth. July and August PMI data show some signs of uptick for Q3, although unemployment data and job creation do not. The government is voicing increasing concern: at a State Council executive meeting in September, Premier Li Keqiang stressed that employment should sit at the top of the government’s agenda. Check out our Quarterly Labor Market Update for the most significant, near-term Chinese labor market trends.