China has achieved significant progress in its employment sector, adding 12.56 million new urban jobs in 2024, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. The announcement was made on Tuesday, highlighting the country's efforts to maintain a stable employment situation amidst global economic challenges.
\"The employment situation remained generally stable,\" stated Lu Aihong, spokesperson for the ministry, during a press conference. In 2024, the surveyed urban unemployment rate stood at 5.1 percent, a slight decrease of 0.1 percentage points from the previous year.
Moreover, over 33.05 million people who had been lifted from poverty were employed by the end of 2024, showcasing China's commitment to poverty alleviation and inclusive growth.
Social security coverage has also expanded, with nearly 1.39 billion social security card holders by the end of last year, including 1.07 billion digital social security card users. \"Social security cards are divided into physical and digital cards. Many people hold both types,\" noted Lu.
The ministry has strengthened the standardized management of vocational competence assessments, with over 12 million individuals obtaining vocational skill-level certificates or professional qualification certificates last year.
Looking ahead to 2025, the ministry announced plans to implement a targeted employment support program for key sectors, industries, urban-rural grassroots areas, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. This includes establishing a mechanism for collecting and releasing information on job positions related to major projects.
Efforts will also be made to enhance the private pension system's appeal through the formulation of relevant policies and measures.
By the end of 2023, 70,000 human resource service agencies were operating across the country, employing 1.06 million people. \"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,\" said Zhang Wenmiao, an official with the ministry.
Addressing youth employment, the ministry announced plans to introduce a youth job creation program in 2025, including measures to boost employment for college graduates. \"Youth employment, particularly for college graduates, remains a top priority for the ministry,\" emphasized Chen Yongjia, an official with the ministry. A series of activities will be organized to promote employment and entrepreneurship among young people.
Reference(s):
China adds 12.56m new urban jobs in 2024, employment situation stable
cgtn.com
