Michael Pettis(@michaelxpettis):This is becoming an increasingly important story: "A Chinese thin tank estimates the number of people in flexible employment - without a permanent full-time contract - rising to 320 million this year from 280 million in 2025, about 44% of China's workforce. China's gig economy has become a crucial employment buffer as the property crisis wipes out construction jobs and manufacturers shed workers through automation and cost-cutting amid tariffs, overcapacity and price wars."

Michael Pettis

@michaelxpettis

Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment. For speaking engagements, please contact me at chinfinpettis@yahoo.com

Joined October 2017

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Michael Pettis@michaelxpettis

2026.07.07 02:54

This is becoming an increasingly important story: "A Chinese thin tank estimates the number of people in flexible employment - without a permanent full-time contract - rising to 320 million this year from 280 million in 2025, about 44% of China's workforce. China's gig economy has become a crucial employment buffer as the property crisis wipes out construction jobs and manufacturers shed workers through automation and cost-cutting amid tariffs, overcapacity and price wars."