Across China, multiple indicators of social stress are flashing red as weakness in the economy takes its toll.

In the predawn darkness, the Houba labour market in Guiyang is a sea of construction helmets as day workers seek temporary jobs in the south-western Chinese city.

But many of these so-called migrant workers, labourers who have left their homes in mostly rural areas to find jobs in the city, will leave disappointed.

China’s property slowdown, coupled with a crunch in local government finances — Guizhou is among several provinces forced to curb spending after splurging on trophy infrastructure projects — has hit jobs.

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