China has achieved a significant milestone by creating 12.56 million new urban jobs in 2024, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. The announcement was made on Tuesday, highlighting the nation's steady progress in employment growth.
The surveyed urban unemployment rate in China stood at 5.1 percent in 2024, a decrease of 0.1 percentage points compared to the previous year, as reported by the ministry. \"The employment situation remained generally stable,\" stated Lu Aihong, spokesperson for the ministry, during a press conference.
By the end of 2024, over 33.05 million people who had been lifted from poverty found employment opportunities, showcasing China's continued efforts in poverty alleviation and job creation. The number of social security card holders reached nearly 1.39 billion, including 1.07 billion digital social security card users, indicating a significant shift towards digitalization in social services.
Social security cards in China are issued in both physical and digital formats, with many citizens utilizing both types. The expansion of digital social security cards reflects the country's commitment to embracing technological advancements to enhance public services.
Lu also highlighted the ministry's efforts in vocational competence assessment, noting that over 12 million individuals obtained vocational skill-level certificates or professional qualification certificates last year. This initiative aims to improve the workforce's skill set and meet the evolving demands of various industries.
Looking ahead to 2025, the ministry announced plans to implement a targeted employment support program focusing on key sectors, industries, urban-rural grassroots areas, as well as micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. The program will establish a mechanism for collecting and releasing information on job positions related to major projects, facilitating better job matching and information flow.
Furthermore, the ministry intends to accelerate research and formulation of relevant policies and measures to enhance the appeal of the private pension system, aiming to provide more robust retirement solutions for the population.
By the end of 2023, China had 70,000 human resource service agencies operating nationwide, employing 1.06 million people. These agencies provided services to 300 million workers and 55.99 million employers throughout 2023, with approximately 40 percent of the employers in the manufacturing sector, according to official Zhang Wenmiao from the ministry.
Addressing youth employment, especially among college graduates, remains a top priority. The ministry announced plans to introduce a youth job creation program in 2025, including measures to boost employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for young people. \"We will organize a series of activities to promote employment and entrepreneurship among young people throughout 2025,\" said ministry official Chen Yongjia.
These initiatives underscore China's commitment to fostering a stable and robust employment landscape, supporting economic growth, and improving the livelihoods of its citizens.
Reference(s):
China adds 12.56m new urban jobs in 2024, employment situation stable
cgtn.com
