China has successfully added 12.56 million new urban jobs in 2024, reflecting a stable employment situation in the country, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.
The surveyed urban unemployment rate stood at 5.1 percent in 2024, a decrease of 0.1 percentage points from the previous year, as reported by the ministry.
\"The employment situation remained generally stable,\" stated Lu Aihong, spokesperson for the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, during a press conference on Tuesday.
By the end of 2024, more than 33.05 million individuals who had been lifted from poverty were gainfully employed, Lu added.
China's social security card holders reached nearly 1.39 billion by the end of last year, including 1.07 billion digital social security card users, according to the spokesperson. Social security cards are divided into physical and digital types, with many people holding both.
Lu noted that the ministry has strengthened the standardized management of vocational competence assessment, resulting in over 12 million individuals obtaining vocational skill-level certificates or professional qualification certificates last year.
Looking ahead, the ministry announced that in 2025, it will implement a targeted employment support program for key sectors, industries, urban-rural grassroots, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. This initiative includes establishing a mechanism for collecting and releasing information on job positions related to major projects.
The ministry will also accelerate research and the formulation of relevant policies and measures to further enhance the appeal of the private pension system.
By the end of 2023, there were 70,000 human resource service agencies 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.
This year, the ministry will introduce a youth job creation program, including measures to boost employment for college graduates. Youth employment, particularly for college graduates, remains a top priority, said ministry official Chen Yongjia. Throughout 2025, the ministry will 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
