China has successfully added 12.56 million new urban jobs in 2024, maintaining a stable employment situation, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Lu Aihong, spokesperson for the ministry, announced that the surveyed urban unemployment rate stood at 5.1 percent in 2024, a slight decrease of 0.1 percentage points from the previous year. \"The employment situation remained generally stable,\" Lu said.
By the end of 2024, over 33.05 million people who had been lifted from poverty were employed, reflecting China's ongoing efforts to alleviate poverty and boost employment among vulnerable populations.
Lu highlighted the ministry's initiatives in strengthening vocational competence assessments. Over 12 million individuals obtained vocational skill-level certificates or professional qualification certificates last year, enhancing the skilled workforce in the country.
China has also made significant progress in expanding social security coverage. 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 are divided into physical and digital versions, with many citizens holding both types.
In 2025, the ministry plans to implement a targeted employment support program focusing on 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 policies to further enhance the appeal of the private pension system.
According to Zhang Wenmiao, an official with the ministry, by the end of 2023, 70,000 human resource service agencies were 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.
Looking ahead, the ministry announced plans to introduce a youth job creation program in the coming year, including measures to boost employment for college graduates.
\"Youth employment, particularly for college graduates, remains a top priority,\" said Chen Yongjia, an official with the ministry. \"Throughout 2025, we will organize a series of activities to promote employment and entrepreneurship among young people.\"
These initiatives underscore China's commitment to maintaining a stable employment landscape and fostering sustainable economic growth.
Reference(s):
China adds 12.56m new urban jobs in 2024, employment situation stable
cgtn.com
