China's urban youth unemployment rate for people aged 16–24, excluding students, fell for a third consecutive month to 14.9% in June 2026, the lowest level in a year, from 15.6% in May, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. The decline points to a continued improvement in youth employment amid government efforts to stabilize the labor market, support economic growth, and better align university programs with labor market needs. Even so, the rate remained above the 14.5% recorded in June 2025. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate for 25–29-year-olds, excluding students, edged down to 7.1% from 7.2%, while the jobless rate for the 30–59 age group eased to 4.0% from 4.1%. The overall surveyed urban unemployment rate also declined slightly, to 5.0% from 5.1%.