China Adds 12.56 Million New Urban Jobs in 2024, Employment Remains Stable
China created 12.56 million new urban jobs in 2024, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. This achievement surpassed the government's annual target and highlights the nation's steady economic recovery.
In 2024, the surveyed urban unemployment rate stood at 5.1 percent, marking a 0.1 percentage point decrease from the previous year, the ministry reported on Tuesday.
\"The employment situation remained generally stable,\" said Lu Aihong, spokesperson for the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, during a press conference. \"Our efforts to stabilize employment and ensure people's livelihoods have yielded positive results.\"
By the end of 2024, over 33.05 million individuals who had been lifted out of poverty secured employment, underscoring China's commitment to poverty alleviation and social development, Lu noted.
The number of social security card holders reached nearly 1.39 billion by the end of last year, including 1.07 billion digital social security card users, the spokesperson added. Social security cards are available in both physical and digital formats, with many people holding both types.
Lu also highlighted the ministry's efforts to standardize vocational competence assessments. Over 12 million individuals obtained vocational skill-level certificates or professional qualification certificates last year, enhancing the nation's skilled workforce.
Looking ahead to 2025, the ministry announced plans to implement a targeted employment support program for key sectors, industries, urban-rural grassroots, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. The program aims to establish a mechanism for collecting and releasing information on job positions related to major projects.
Efforts will also be made to accelerate the development of policies and measures to enhance the appeal of the private pension system, contributing to long-term economic stability.
By the end of 2023, China had 70,000 human resource service agencies operating across the country, employing 1.06 million people, according to official Zhang Wenmiao. These agencies provided services to 300 million workers and 55.99 million employers throughout 2023, with approximately 40 percent of these employers in the manufacturing sector.
The ministry emphasized its commitment to youth employment, particularly for college graduates. \"Youth employment remains a top priority,\" 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.\"
The ministry plans to introduce a youth job creation program this year, including measures to boost employment opportunities for college graduates, reflecting the government's dedication to fostering the next generation of the workforce.
Reference(s):
China adds 12.56m new urban jobs in 2024, employment situation stable
cgtn.com
