China created 12.56 million new urban jobs in 2024, signaling a stable employment situation, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security announced on Tuesday.
According to the ministry, the surveyed urban unemployment rate stood at 5.1 percent in 2024, a decrease of 0.1 percentage points from the previous year.
“The employment situation remained generally stable,” said Lu Aihong, spokesperson for the ministry, at a press conference.
By the end of 2024, over 33.05 million people who had been lifted from poverty were employed, Lu added.
China’s social security card holders reached nearly 1.39 billion by the end of last year, including 1.07 billion digital social security card users, according to the spokesperson. Social security cards are divided into physical and digital forms, with many individuals holding both types.
Lu also noted that the ministry has strengthened the standardized management of vocational competence assessment, with over 12 million individuals obtaining vocational skill-level certificates or professional qualification certificates in the past year.
Looking ahead, the ministry announced that in 2025, it will implement a targeted employment support program for key sectors, industries, urban-rural grassroots, as well as micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. This initiative aims to establish a mechanism for collecting and releasing information on job positions related to major projects.
The ministry will further accelerate research and formulate relevant policies to enhance the appeal of the private pension system.
By the end of 2023, 70,000 human resource service agencies were operating across the country, employing 1.06 million people, according to Zhang Wenmiao, an official with the ministry. Throughout 2023, these agencies provided services to 300 million workers and 55.99 million employers, with approximately 40 percent of these employers in the manufacturing sector.
The ministry also announced plans to introduce a youth job creation program this year, including measures to boost employment for college graduates.
Youth employment, particularly for college graduates, remains a top priority for the ministry, said Chen Yongjia, another official with the ministry. “Throughout 2025, we will organize a series of activities to promote employment and entrepreneurship among young people,” Chen stated.
Reference(s):
China adds 12.56m new urban jobs in 2024, employment situation stable
cgtn.com
