Debunking foreign claims of fake job data
GT investigation shows survey in line with global standards, most suitable
This is the last piece of a multi-part series where the Global Times looks into the severity of unemployment issues in China following the outbreak of COVID-19 and claims from some foreign media that social unrest in China might be imminent. This article focuses on the methodology of China’s official data and its accuracy.
Some Western media have long been preoccupied with the opinion that China has fabricated its official unemployment data, an impression that is ungrounded and prejudicial, because not only has China made constant efforts to improve its statistical methods, but its current model of unemployment survey is mostly in line with international standards and can generally reflect the country’s employment status, found a Global Times investigation.
The investigation, which included interviews with government officials, statistical experts and workers, also showed that beyond an inherent bias toward China, foreign media also lacks a proper understanding of the unique and complex conditions in China and the efforts by officials to improve methods to reflect changes in the country’s evolving labor market.
Such a judgement, that China’s official unemployment data is “fake” and much lower than reality, has existed for a long time in Western media but was reignited recently after many found China’s newly released March unemployment rate was lower than their expectations, suggesting a betterthan-expected job market and general economy in China.
Foreign media is doubting the truth of China’s unemployment data mostly based on the conclusion that Chinese migrant workers unable to find jobs outside of their home provinces are not included in China’s statistical scope. Based on those “reasons,” they jump to the conclusion that China’s unemployment rate should be much higher than what has been officially stated.
Experts said that some of the problems pointed out by overseas media did exist in China’s past statistical methods, but they failed to follow up with China’s reforms in statistical investigations, and they did not take into account the complexities and the distinctive characteristics of China’s job market.
China has been using a registering method to calculate its unemployment rate for years. However, in 2018, China adopted a new statistical method to calculate its unemployment rate based on a nationwide survey. The survey is carried out on urban or rural residents regardless of their hukou.
Not every town and village is covered in the survey samples, but for migrant workers, as long as they reside in a surveyed region for more than six months, they can be included in the survey samples, a staff member at the National Bureau of Statistics told the Global Times on condition of anonymity.
Experts and officials also noted that given the complexities of China’s economy and some distinctive characteristics of China’s job market, it’s not necessary to totally copy overseas statistical methods.