China has created 12.56 million new urban jobs in 2024, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, signaling a stable employment situation in the Chinese mainland.
\"The employment situation remained generally stable,\" stated Lu Aihong, spokesperson for the ministry, during a press conference on Tuesday.
In 2024, the surveyed urban unemployment rate stood at 5.1 percent, a decrease of 0.1 percentage points from the previous year, reflecting positive trends in the job market.
By the end of 2024, over 33.05 million people who had been lifted from poverty were gainfully employed, highlighting the country's efforts in poverty alleviation and employment promotion.
\"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,\" Lu added. \"Social security cards are divided into physical and digital cards, with many people holding both types.\"
Lu 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 last year.
Looking ahead to 2025, the ministry announced the implementation of a targeted employment support program for key sectors, industries, urban-rural grassroots, and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. The aim is to establish a mechanism for collecting and releasing information on job positions related to major projects.
The ministry will also accelerate research and formulate relevant policies and measures to further enhance the private pension system's appeal.
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,\" Zhang said.
The ministry stated that this year it will introduce a youth job creation program, including measures to boost employment for college graduates.
\"Youth employment, particularly for college graduates, 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.\"
These initiatives underscore China's commitment to maintaining a stable employment landscape and supporting workforce development across various sectors in the coming years.
Reference(s):
China adds 12.56m new urban jobs in 2024, employment situation stable
cgtn.com
