China's youth unemployment rate for individuals aged 16 to 24, excluding students, rose to 17.8% in July 2025, up from 14.5% in June, marking the highest level since August 2024. The increase ends a four-month period of decline and reflects deteriorating employment conditions amid the post-graduation job-seeking season. For the 25 to 29 age group, the urban unemployment rate also edged up to 6.9% in July from 6.7% in June. Overall urban unemployment in China rose slightly to 5.2% in July after holding steady at 5.0% for the previous two months. The rise in youth unemployment has prompted some members of Generation Z to seek multiple freelance jobs as a survival strategy and avoid exploitation in large technology companies. Some young job seekers have resorted to paying daily fees to simulate office work. The unemployment rate among 16 to 19-year-olds increased to 15.2%, a 6 percentage point rise from the cycle low, while the 20 to 24 age group saw an increase to 7.9%, up 2 percentage points from a couple of years ago. These figures highlight ongoing challenges in China's labor market, particularly for younger workers.