China created 12.56 million new urban jobs in 2024, marking a significant stride in the nation's employment landscape, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. The surveyed urban unemployment rate stood at 5.1 percent, a decrease of 0.1 percentage points from the previous year, signaling a generally stable employment situation.
\"The employment situation remained generally stable,\" said Lu Aihong, spokesperson for the ministry, during a press conference on Tuesday. Lu highlighted that by the end of 2024, over 33.05 million people who had been lifted from poverty were employed, showcasing the country's efforts in poverty alleviation and job creation.
China's social security system has also seen significant growth, with social security card holders reaching nearly 1.39 billion by the end of last year, including 1.07 billion digital social security card users. \"Social security cards are divided into physical cards and digital cards, and many people hold both types,\" Lu noted.
In a bid to enhance workforce skills, the ministry has strengthened the standardized management of vocational competence assessment. Over 12 million individuals obtained vocational skill-level certificates or professional qualification certificates in 2024, boosting the nation's skilled labor force.
Looking ahead to 2025, the ministry announced plans to implement a targeted employment support program focusing on 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, thereby facilitating employment opportunities.
The ministry will also accelerate research and formulation of policies to enhance the appeal of the private pension system, ensuring better retirement security for workers.
Highlighting the growth in human resource services, by the end of 2023, 70,000 human resource service agencies were operating across the country, employing 1.06 million people, according to ministry official Zhang Wenmiao. 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.
To address youth employment, the ministry announced the introduction of a youth job creation program in 2024, including measures to boost employment for college graduates. \"Youth employment, particularly for college graduates, remains a top priority for the ministry,\" said official Chen Yongjia. Throughout 2025, the ministry will organize a series of activities to promote employment and entrepreneurship among young people.
