Students actively talk with company representatives during the job fair at the Henan University of Technology in Zhengzhou, Central China's Henan Province, on March 30, 2024. Photo: VCG

China's youth unemployment situation improved in October compared with the previous month, with the rate for those aged 16 to 24 (excluding students) hitting a three-month low. An expert said that this is a sign of a job market recovery with potential for further improvement.

The youth unemployment rate was 17.1 percent in October, down from 17.6 percent in September, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on Monday.

Observers noted that recent measures to boost the job market have started to yield tangible results, but with the youth unemployment rate remaining relatively high in October, continued policy support is anticipated.

The Ministry of Education announced plans to roll out campus recruitment activities for 2025 college graduates in November and December. The initiative aims to broaden job opportunities and organize targeted recruitment sessions. 

According to People's Daily, the campaign will feature more 40 online and on-site recruitment events offering more than 3 million jobs.

Shanghai launched a citywide campaign in August to boost job opportunities for 2024 graduates and young job seekers. Led by the city's human resources department, the initiative aims to achieve a 90 percent job placement rate for unemployed graduates by year-end, according to Shanghai Observer, a Shanghai-based news agency.

College graduates have consistently been the largest group among young job seekers.
A significant rise in college graduates is expected in 2025, with the total number projected to reach 12.22 million, according to official data released on Thursday. This would be an increase of 430,000 compared with the previous year.

China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security announced that 10.49 million urban jobs were created across the country in the first three quarters.

The nationwide average surveyed urban unemployment rate was 5.1 percent from January to October, a fall of 0.2 percentage points year-on-year, the NBS reported on Friday.

"With more targeted policies and sustained momentum, the youth unemployment rate could gradually decline to a more reasonable level," Li Changan, a professor at the Academy of China Open Economy Studies at the University of International Business and Economics, told the Global Times on Monday.

He added that coming policies should not only address the demand for new jobs but also focus on resolving existing employment challenges. Additionally, innovative strategies are needed to further enhance policy efficiency, ensuring broader and fairer support for youth employment.