China Adds 12.56 Million New Urban Jobs in 2024, Employment Remains Stable
China's job market continued its steady growth in 2024, with the creation of 12.56 million new urban jobs, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. The announcement was made on Tuesday by ministry spokesperson Lu Aihong during a press conference.
The surveyed urban unemployment rate stood at 5.1 percent in 2024, a slight decrease of 0.1 percentage points compared to the previous year. \"The employment situation remained generally stable,\" Lu affirmed, highlighting the resilience of China's labor market amid global economic uncertainties.
Significant progress was also made in reducing poverty through employment. By the end of 2024, over 33.05 million individuals who had been lifted from poverty secured employment. This achievement underscores the effectiveness of China's poverty alleviation initiatives and their impact on improving livelihoods.
The ministry reported that 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, available in both physical and digital formats, serve as vital tools for accessing social services, with many individuals holding both types.
In efforts to enhance workforce skills, Lu noted that over 12 million people obtained vocational skill-level certificates or professional qualification certificates in 2024. \"We have strengthened the standardized management of vocational competence assessments,\" he said, emphasizing the ministry's commitment to building a highly skilled workforce.
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, further stimulating employment opportunities.
To bolster social security, the ministry will accelerate the research and formulation of policies to enhance the appeal of the private pension system. This move is expected to encourage broader participation and strengthen the overall pension framework.
The human resource service industry also saw significant growth. By the end of 2023, there were 70,000 human resource service agencies operating nationwide, employing 1.06 million people. According to ministry official Zhang Wenmiao, these agencies provided services to 300 million workers and 55.99 million employers throughout 2023, with approximately 40 percent of these employers in the manufacturing sector.
Addressing youth employment, the ministry announced the introduction of a youth job creation program this year, including measures to boost employment for college graduates. \"Youth employment, particularly for college graduates, remains a top priority for the ministry,\" said ministry official Chen Yongjia. Throughout 2025, a series of activities will be organized to promote employment and entrepreneurship among young people.
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China adds 12.56m new urban jobs in 2024, employment situation stable
cgtn.com
