China has continued its momentum in job creation, adding 12.56 million new urban jobs in 2024, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. The announcement, made on Tuesday, highlights the country's steady progress in bolstering its employment landscape.
"The employment situation remained generally stable," said Lu Aihong, spokesperson for the ministry, during a press conference. China's surveyed urban unemployment rate stood at 5.1 percent in 2024, a slight decrease of 0.1 percentage points from the previous year.
By the end of 2024, more than 33.05 million people who had been lifted from poverty were employed, showcasing significant strides in poverty alleviation efforts.
Social security coverage has also expanded, with nearly 1.39 billion social security card holders 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. Many people hold both types," Lu explained.
In efforts to enhance workforce qualifications, over 12 million individuals obtained vocational skill-level certificates or professional qualification certificates last year. The ministry has strengthened the standardized management of vocational competence assessment to support this growth.
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 releasing information on job positions related to major projects.
Additionally, the ministry will accelerate research and formulate policies to enhance the appeal of the private pension system, aiming to provide better retirement security for individuals.
According to Zhang Wenmiao, an official with the ministry, 70,000 human resource service agencies were 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.
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.
Reference(s):
China adds 12.56m new urban jobs in 2024, employment situation stable
cgtn.com
