In a significant stride towards economic stability, China created 12.56 million new urban jobs in 2024, as reported by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security on Tuesday. This achievement underscores the nation's dedication to bolstering employment amid global economic challenges.
The surveyed urban unemployment rate stood at 5.1 percent in 2024, a slight decrease of 0.1 percentage points from the previous year, reflecting a stable employment situation across the nation.
\"The employment situation remained generally stable,\" said Lu Aihong, spokesperson for the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, at a press conference.
By the end of 2024, over 33.05 million people who had been lifted from poverty were employed, demonstrating China's ongoing efforts to alleviate poverty through job creation.
China's social security system also saw significant growth, with nearly 1.39 billion social security card holders by the end of last year, including 1.07 billion digital social security card users. Social security cards are available in both physical and digital forms, and many people hold both types.
The ministry has strengthened the standardized management of vocational competence assessments, with over 12 million individuals obtaining vocational skill-level or professional qualification certificates last year. This initiative aims to enhance the skill sets of the workforce, contributing to overall economic development.
Looking ahead to 2025, the ministry announced plans to implement a targeted employment support program focused on key sectors, industries, urban-rural grassroots, as well as micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. This initiative 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, aiming to improve social security for the aging population.
By the end of 2023, 70,000 human resource service agencies were operating across the country, employing 1.06 million people, according to ministry official Zhang Wenmiao. 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.
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 for the ministry,\" said ministry official Chen Yongjia. \"Throughout 2025, we will organize a series of activities to promote employment and entrepreneurship among young people.\"
