For the first time, China publishes monthly survey-based urban unemployment rate. 5.1% national-wide and 4.9% in 31 large cities. http://www.scio.gov.cn/xwfbh/xwbfbh/wqfbh/37601/38224/index.htm …
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Currently, the only check is to compare it with registered unemployment rate (this excludes migrant worker), which is about 1% lower. Overtime, we can examine how the survey-based rate correlates with other economic statistics
Right. The old "electricity/coal consumption" vs GDP statistic comparison. But, how does the gov't collect this statistic? Why do migrants without hukou have an incentive to report that they are out of work? I would assume that without hukou there are no unemployment benefits?