China created 12.56 million new urban jobs in 2024, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security announced on Tuesday. The surveyed urban unemployment rate stood at 5.1 percent, a decrease of 0.1 percentage points from the previous year, indicating a generally stable employment situation.
Stable Employment Figures
“The employment situation remained generally stable,” said Lu Aihong, spokesperson for the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, during a press conference. By the end of 2024, over 33.05 million people who had been lifted from poverty were employed, reflecting China’s ongoing efforts to enhance livelihoods.
Growth in Social Security Coverage
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. Social security cards are divided into physical and digital cards, with many individuals holding both types.
Vocational Training and Skill Development
Lu highlighted that over 12 million individuals obtained vocational skill-level certificates or professional qualification certificates last year, as the ministry strengthened the standardized management of vocational competence assessments.
Future Employment Initiatives
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 includes establishing a mechanism for collecting and releasing information on job positions related to major projects.
The ministry will also accelerate the research and formulation of policies to enhance the appeal of the private pension system.
Human Resource Services Expansion
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.
Focus on Youth Employment
The ministry emphasized that youth employment, particularly for college graduates, remains a top priority. “This year we will introduce a youth job creation program, including measures to boost employment for college graduates,” said ministry official Chen Yongjia. Throughout 2025, the ministry plans to organize a series of activities to promote employment and entrepreneurship among young people.
Reference(s):
China adds 12.56m new urban jobs in 2024, employment situation stable
cgtn.com
