China has reached a significant milestone in 2024 by creating 12.56 million new urban jobs, as announced by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security on Tuesday. This achievement reflects the country's stable employment situation and its ongoing efforts to boost economic growth.
According to the ministry, China's 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,\" stated Lu Aihong, spokesperson for the ministry, during a press conference.
By the end of 2024, over 33.05 million people who had been lifted from poverty were employed, showcasing China's commitment to eradicating poverty and improving living standards. The number of social security card holders in the country reached nearly 1.39 billion, including 1.07 billion digital social security card users, indicating significant progress in social welfare and digitalization efforts.
Lu highlighted that 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. This initiative aims to enhance the workforce's capabilities and meet the demands of various industries.
Looking ahead to 2025, the ministry announced plans to implement a targeted employment support program focusing on key sectors, industries, urban-rural grassroots, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. The program will establish a mechanism for collecting and releasing information on job positions related to major projects, fostering greater connectivity between employers and job seekers.
The ministry will also accelerate the research and formulation of policies to further enhance the appeal of the private pension system, aiming to strengthen social security and encourage private participation in pension provisions.
By the end of 2023, there were 70,000 human resource service agencies 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.
To address youth employment, particularly for college graduates, the ministry plans to introduce a youth job creation program in 2025. \"Youth employment remains a top priority for the ministry,\" said Chen Yongjia, an official with the ministry. \"Throughout 2025, we will organize a series of activities to promote employment and entrepreneurship among young people.\"
Reference(s):
China adds 12.56m new urban jobs in 2024, employment situation stable
cgtn.com
