China has achieved remarkable progress in its employment sector by creating 12.56 million new urban jobs in 2024, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security on Tuesday. This accomplishment has contributed to maintaining a generally stable employment situation across the nation.
The surveyed urban unemployment rate decreased to 5.1 percent in 2024, a slight drop of 0.1 percentage points from the previous year. Lu Aihong, spokesperson for the Ministry, highlighted the positive trends at a recent press conference, stating, \"The employment situation remained generally stable.\"
Significantly, over 33.05 million individuals who had been lifted from poverty found employment by the end of 2024. This reflects China's ongoing efforts to eradicate poverty and improve living standards for its residents.
The number of social security cardholders in China reached nearly 1.39 billion by the end of last year, including 1.07 billion digital social security card users. Social security cards are issued in both physical and digital formats, with many individuals holding both types.
In an effort to enhance workforce skills, the Ministry has strengthened the standardized management of vocational competence assessments. Over 12 million people obtained vocational skill-level certificates or professional qualification certificates last year, showcasing a commitment to professional development.
Looking ahead to 2025, the Ministry plans to implement a targeted employment support program focusing on key sectors, industries, urban-rural grassroots, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. This initiative aims to establish a mechanism for collecting and disseminating information on job positions related to major projects.
The Ministry also intends to accelerate the research and formulation of policies to further enhance the appeal of the private pension system, encouraging more participation and investment in private pension schemes.
By the end of 2023, China had 70,000 human resource service agencies operating nationwide, employing 1.06 million people. Zhang Wenmiao, an official with the Ministry, noted that these agencies provided services to 300 million workers and 55.99 million employers throughout 2023, with approximately 40 percent of the employers in the manufacturing sector.
Recognizing the importance of supporting young professionals, the Ministry announced plans to introduce a youth job creation program this year, including measures specifically designed to boost employment for college graduates. Chen Yongjia, an official with the Ministry, emphasized that youth employment remains a top priority. \"Throughout 2025, we will organize a series of activities to promote employment and entrepreneurship among young people,\" he said.
Reference(s):
China adds 12.56m new urban jobs in 2024, employment situation stable
cgtn.com
