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."

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."