China's youth unemployment rate at 15.8% — is the economy in doldrums? Country's central bank cuts key rates amid trade war with U.S.; here's what key indicators say

China's urban youth unemployment rate for individuals aged 16 to 24 declined to 15.8% in April 2025, down from 16.5% in March, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. While this decrease indicates a slight improvement in employment conditions for young people in Chinese cities, the rate remains significantly higher than the overall urban unemployment rate of 5.1%. China cuts lending rates in a fresh move to support its slowing economy amid the ongoing Sino-U.S. trade war. The People’s Bank of China lowered its key loan prime rates for the first time since October, aiming to ease borrowing costs and encourage consumer spending.