CHINA

China’s Gig Economy Grows as Demographics Shift, Labor Market Tightens

Published: Feb. 27, 2026 4:49 p.m. GMT+8

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A job fair in Zibo, Shandong province, on Feb. 24. Photo: VCG

China’s gig economy continued to expand in 2025 as the traditional job market remained tight and demographic shifts reshaped who was driving taxis and who was working in the cloud.

A joint report released recently by Jinan University’s Institute for Economic and Social Research and recruitment platform Zhaopin showed that both supply and demand for new employment forms increased in 2025. Job postings rose 15.1% from a year earlier, while the number of job seekers increased by 11%.

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China’s gig economy expanded in 2025, with job postings up 15.1% and job seekers up 11% year-on-year.
Location-based jobs (ride-hailing/delivery) drove growth, with openings up 28.9%; cloud-based job demand stayed flat, but applicants rose 9.2%.
Older workers (46+) increased in gig roles, while over 70% of cloud-based applicants are under 30; lower-tier cities saw rising demand for gig jobs.

AI generated, for reference only

Who’s Who

Zhaopin: Zhaopin (智联招聘) is a recruitment platform that co-released a report with Jinan University's Institute for Economic and Social Research. This report highlighted the continued expansion of China's gig economy in 2025, noting increases in both job postings and job seekers for new employment forms.

AI generated, for reference only

What Happened When

2024：: Job postings and job seekers used as a base year for comparison; job postings in 2025 rose 15.1% from 2024, and job seekers increased by 11%.

2025：: China’s gig economy continued to expand as the traditional job market remained tight and demographic shifts occurred.

2025：: Both supply and demand for new employment forms increased. Job postings rose 15.1% from the previous year (2024), and job seekers increased by 11%.

2025：: Job openings in location-based services surged 28.9%, and applicants for these roles rose 19.3%. Demand for cloud-based roles was largely flat, but job seekers increased by 9.2%.