CNN wrote that China has an employment problem because the jobless rate for 16 to 24 year olds in urban areas hit 21.3% last month, a record high.
When read uncritically this sounds pretty bad, and CNN relies on the fact that the readers will not analyze this statement further. Let's take a look at how absurd the argument in the article actually is.
First, why are they counting from 16 years old. I realize that child labour is being normalized in US right now, but in civilized countries kids don't work and they go to school. A serious unemployment statistic wouldn't include children.
Second, the article presents this as an abnormal situation, but is it actually.What is the situation like in Europe for example?
https://www.statista.com/statistics/613670/youth-unemployment-rates-in-europe/
Turns out that it's pretty comparable, yet we don't see CNN writing sensational articles about a youth unemployment crisis in Europe.
To sum up, CNN created a story out of whole cloth that relies on the readers not being curious enough to read it critically.
This is what much of reporting in western media looks like. Yet, a lot of people genuinely think that the media they consume is factual and unbiased allowing it to shape their views of the world.
I was about to say, what a weird statistic. First including children, second including young people at student ages. Now, in the capitalist hellhole system, working a job to afford being able to study is seen as normal. I would find it a great step forward if we were to pay young people to develop themselves at that age, getting education etc. without having to worry about paying the bills. A higher percentage of unemployment at these ages can be beneficial if things like education or self development are being promoted, instead of doing minimum wage labor.
But, like you said, people read a statistic, don't think any further than 'China bad, statistic bad' and call it a day.
The unemployment statistic is not counting children who are students, that itself is a misrepresentation.
Full time students are excluded from unemployment metrics. This is counting people 16 and up who are not in school or college.
That makes sense. Don't get me wrong, there's reason enough to critically look at a 21% unemployment rate and if things are going wrong in this specific age group.
That being said, it is indeed similar in Western European countries for all kind of reasons. It's just the problematic framing of CNN that makes people go 'China bad, youth lazy' once again.