China created 12.56 million new urban jobs in 2024, maintaining a stable employment situation, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. The announcement was made on Tuesday, revealing that the surveyed urban unemployment rate stood at 5.1 percent for the year, a slight decrease of 0.1 percentage points from the previous year.
\"The employment situation remained generally stable,\" said Lu Aihong, spokesperson for the ministry, during a press conference. Lu highlighted that by the end of 2024, over 33.05 million people who had been lifted from poverty were employed, demonstrating the country's ongoing efforts to enhance livelihoods.
The ministry also reported significant growth in social security coverage. By the end of last year, nearly 1.39 billion people held social security cards, including 1.07 billion digital social security card users. With both physical and digital cards in circulation, many individuals possess both types, reflecting China's push towards digitalization in social services.
Moreover, the ministry has strengthened standardized management of vocational competence assessments. Over 12 million individuals obtained vocational skill-level certificates or professional qualification certificates last year, indicating a focus on upskilling the 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. This initiative will include establishing a mechanism for collecting and releasing information on job positions related to major projects, aiming to further stimulate employment opportunities.
The ministry is also accelerating research and formulation of policies to enhance the appeal of the private pension system, aiming to bolster social security and retirement benefits.
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, underscoring the sector's significance in China's economy.
Youth employment remains a top priority. The ministry announced plans to introduce a youth job creation program this year, 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 Chen Yongjia, an official with the ministry. This initiative reflects the government's commitment to supporting the younger workforce and encouraging innovation.
Reference(s):
China adds 12.56m new urban jobs in 2024, employment situation stable
cgtn.com
