China Adds 12.56 Million New Urban Jobs in 2024, Employment Situation Stable
China created 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 country's continued efforts to bolster employment and sustain economic growth.
The surveyed urban unemployment rate stood at 5.1 percent in 2024, a slight decrease of 0.1 percentage points from the previous year, indicating a stable employment situation. \"The employment situation remained generally stable,\" said 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 were employed, showcasing China's commitment to poverty alleviation and inclusive growth.
In addition, the number of social security card holders reached nearly 1.39 billion, including 1.07 billion digital social security card users. Social security cards are divided into physical and digital forms, with many individuals holding both types.
Lu added that the ministry has strengthened the standardized management of vocational competence assessment, with over 12 million individuals obtaining vocational skill-level certificates or professional qualification certificates last year.
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. The program aims to establish a mechanism for collecting and releasing information on job positions related to major projects.
The ministry will also accelerate research and formulation of policies to further enhance the private pension system's appeal.
By the end of 2023, 70,000 human resource service agencies were operating across the country, employing 1.06 million people. Zhang Wenmiao, an official with the ministry, noted that 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.
To support youth employment, particularly for college graduates, the ministry announced plans to introduce a youth job creation program in 2025. \"Youth employment remains a top priority,\" said Chen Yongjia, an official with the ministry. The program will include measures to boost employment and entrepreneurship among young people, organizing a series of activities to promote their integration into the workforce.
Reference(s):
China adds 12.56m new urban jobs in 2024, employment situation stable
cgtn.com
