China has created 12.56 million new urban jobs in 2024, maintaining a stable employment situation, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security announced on Tuesday.
According to the ministry, the surveyed urban unemployment rate stood at 5.1 percent in 2024, a decrease of 0.1 percentage points compared to the previous year.
\"The employment situation remained generally stable,\" said Lu Aihong, spokesperson for the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, during a press conference.
By the end of 2024, over 33.05 million people who had been lifted from poverty were employed, reflecting the nation's ongoing commitment to eradicating poverty through job creation.
Furthermore, 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, Lu noted. 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 assessments, 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 for key sectors, industries, urban-rural grassroots, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. This includes establishing a mechanism for collecting and releasing information on job positions related to major projects.
The ministry will also accelerate research and formulation of relevant policies to further enhance the private pension system's appeal, aiming to provide better retirement options for the aging population.
According to Zhang Wenmiao, an official with the ministry, by the end of 2023, there were 70,000 human resource service agencies operating across the country, 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.
The ministry emphasized that youth employment, particularly for college graduates, remains a top priority. Chen Yongjia, another official with the ministry, stated that in 2025, a youth job creation program will be introduced, including measures to boost employment for college graduates. The ministry will organize a series of activities to promote employment and entrepreneurship among young people.
\"We are committed to ensuring that the employment situation continues to remain stable and that opportunities are available for all,\" Lu said, highlighting the government's dedication to fostering a robust and inclusive labor market.
Reference(s):
China adds 12.56m new urban jobs in 2024, employment situation stable
cgtn.com
