China has achieved significant progress in employment in 2024, adding 12.56 million new urban jobs, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS). The ministry announced on Tuesday that the country's employment situation remained generally stable throughout the year.
\"The employment situation remained generally stable,\" said Lu Aihong, spokesperson for the MOHRSS, at 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, reflecting sustained efforts to stabilize employment across the nation.
By the end of 2024, over 33.05 million people who had been lifted from poverty secured employment, demonstrating China's commitment to alleviating poverty through job creation.
China's social security system also saw expansion, with nearly 1.39 billion social security card holders by the end of the year, including 1.07 billion digital social security card users. Social security cards are available in both physical and digital formats, with many residents holding both types.
In terms of vocational skills development, the ministry strengthened standardized management of vocational competence assessments. Over 12 million individuals obtained vocational skill-level certificates or professional qualification certificates in 2024, enhancing the nation's 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.
Efforts will also be accelerated to research and formulate policies to further enhance the appeal of the private pension system, providing stronger support for the aging population.
The human resource services industry continued to grow, with 70,000 human resource service agencies operating across the country by the end of 2023, 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 Zhang Wenmiao, an official with the ministry.
Youth employment remains a top priority for the ministry. Chen Yongjia, an official with the MOHRSS, stated that in 2025, the ministry will introduce a youth job creation program, including measures to boost employment for college graduates. A series of activities will be organized to promote employment and entrepreneurship among young people, aiming to address challenges in the youth job market.
Reference(s):
China adds 12.56m new urban jobs in 2024, employment situation stable
cgtn.com
