China youth jobless data returns, with good news
China has started releasing unemployment figures for young people again after several months, with the rate plunging from a historic high last summer. The National Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday said the jobless rate for those aged 16 to 24 stood at 14.9 percent in December, compared with 21.3 percent last June. The bureau's commissioner, Kang Yi, told a press conference that changes made to the methodology mean the figure now excludes students.  “In China, students’ overwhelming priority is study, instead of having part-time jobs. If we include students in the age group, then the statistics will mix students having part-time jobs and graduates looking for a job. So this number will not accurately reflect the employment rate and unemployment rate,” Kang said. “Excluding students in this age group will help us more accurately reflect the employment situation of graduates or non-students, and we can provide them with more accurate and more targeted employment services and policies.”  Overall, China’s urban unemployment rate in December was 5.1 percent, below the authorities' target of  5.5 percent.