China has made significant strides in stabilizing its employment landscape, creating 12.56 million new urban jobs in 2024, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. This achievement underscores the resilience of the Chinese economy amid global uncertainties.
The surveyed urban unemployment rate stood at 5.1 percent last year, a slight decrease of 0.1 percentage points from the previous year, the ministry reported at a press conference on Tuesday. \"The employment situation remained generally stable,\" said Lu Aihong, spokesperson for the ministry.
By the end of 2024, over 33.05 million people who had been lifted from poverty were employed, reflecting the effectiveness of China's poverty alleviation efforts in promoting sustainable livelihoods.
Social security coverage has also expanded, with nearly 1.39 billion social security card holders nationwide, including 1.07 billion digital card users. \"Social security cards are divided into physical and digital cards, and many people hold both types,\" Lu explained.
In a bid to enhance workforce quality, the ministry has strengthened the management of vocational competence assessments. Over 12 million individuals obtained vocational skill-level certificates or professional qualification certificates last year, indicating a growing emphasis on professional development.
Looking ahead to 2025, the ministry announced 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 releasing information on job positions related to major projects, aligning workforce supply with industry demand.
The ministry also intends to accelerate research and formulate policies to enhance the appeal of the private pension system, recognizing the importance of financial security for the aging population.
Human resource services have seen significant growth, with 70,000 service agencies operating across the country by the end of 2023, employing 1.06 million people. \"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,\" said Zhang Wenmiao, an official with the ministry.
Youth employment remains a top priority. The ministry 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,\" stated Chen Yongjia, an official with the ministry.
Reference(s):
China adds 12.56m new urban jobs in 2024, employment situation stable
cgtn.com
