In a significant boost to its urban workforce, China created 12.56 million new urban jobs in 2024, as announced by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security on Tuesday. This development marks a continued effort by the nation to strengthen its economy and ensure social stability.
The surveyed urban unemployment rate declined to 5.1 percent in 2024, a slight decrease of 0.1 percentage points from the previous year. \"The employment situation remained generally stable,\" stated ministry spokesperson Lu Aihong during a press conference, emphasizing the steady nature of the Chinese mainland's job market.
One of the notable achievements highlighted was the employment of over 33.05 million people who had been lifted from poverty by the end of 2024. This milestone reflects China's commitment to poverty alleviation through sustainable employment opportunities.
Additionally, the ministry reported that 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 widespread adoption of social security cards, both physical and digital, facilitates access to essential social welfare services for the population.
Enhancing vocational skills remains a priority, with over 12 million individuals obtaining vocational skill-level certificates or professional qualification certificates in 2024. Lu noted that the ministry has intensified the standardized management of vocational competence assessments to support workforce development.
Looking forward to 2025, the ministry announced plans to implement a targeted employment support program focusing on key sectors, industries, urban-rural grassroots areas, 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, thereby connecting job seekers with emerging opportunities.
The ministry is also set to accelerate the development of policies to enhance the appeal of the private pension system, providing more robust retirement planning options for citizens.
Human resource service agencies have played a significant role in supporting the labor market. By the end of 2023, approximately 70,000 such agencies were operating across the country, employing 1.06 million people. Ministry official Zhang Wenmiao highlighted that, throughout 2023, these agencies served 300 million workers and 55.99 million employers, with about 40 percent of employers hailing from the manufacturing sector.
Youth employment remains a top priority for the ministry. This year, a youth job creation program will be introduced, including measures to boost employment for college graduates. \"Throughout 2025, we will organize a series of activities to promote employment and entrepreneurship among young people,\" said ministry official Chen Yongjia, underscoring the focus on nurturing the next generation of the workforce.
Reference(s):
China adds 12.56m new urban jobs in 2024, employment situation stable
cgtn.com
