Amid global economic uncertainties, China has demonstrated remarkable resilience by creating 12.56 million new urban jobs in 2024, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. This achievement underscores the nation's commitment to maintaining a stable employment landscape.
The surveyed urban unemployment rate stood at 5.1 percent, a slight decrease of 0.1 percentage points from the previous year. \"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 gainfully employed, reflecting the effectiveness of China's poverty alleviation initiatives through job creation.
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. Many residents hold both physical and digital cards, enhancing accessibility to social security services across the country.
The Ministry has also strengthened the management of vocational competence assessments, with over 12 million individuals obtaining vocational skill-level certificates or professional qualification certificates last year. This move aims to enhance the workforce's overall skill set and competitiveness.
Looking ahead to 2025, the Ministry announced a targeted employment support program focusing on key sectors, industries, urban-rural grassroots, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. The program will establish a mechanism for collecting and releasing information on job positions related to major projects.
Efforts will also be intensified to accelerate the development of policies and measures that enhance the appeal of the private pension system, providing more options for retirement planning.
By the end of 2023, 70,000 human resource service agencies were operating nationwide, employing 1.06 million people. Throughout 2023, these agencies served 300 million workers and 55.99 million employers, with approximately 40 percent of employers in the manufacturing sector, according to Zhang Wenmiao, an official with the Ministry.
This year, the Ministry plans to introduce a youth job creation program, 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.\"
Reference(s):
China adds 12.56m new urban jobs in 2024, employment situation stable
cgtn.com
