China has successfully added 12.56 million new urban jobs in 2024, signaling a stable employment landscape, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.
The country's surveyed urban unemployment rate for 2024 stood at 5.1 percent, a slight decrease of 0.1 percentage points from the previous year. \"The employment situation remained generally stable,\" stated Lu Aihong, spokesperson for the Ministry, during a recent press conference.
By the end of 2024, more than 33.05 million individuals who were lifted out of poverty found employment, highlighting significant strides in economic inclusivity. Additionally, the number of social security card holders reached nearly 1.39 billion, with digital social security card usage accounting for 1.07 billion of them, reflecting the country's push towards digitalization.
The Ministry has also focused on enhancing vocational skills, with over 12 million people earning vocational skill-level or professional qualification certificates last year. Looking ahead to 2025, a targeted employment support program will be implemented to assist key sectors, industries, urban-rural grassroots areas, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. This program aims to establish a robust mechanism for disseminating job positions related to major projects.
Moreover, efforts to bolster the private pension system are underway, aiming to make it more appealing and sustainable. By the end of 2023, there were 70,000 human resource service agencies operating nationwide, employing 1.06 million people. These agencies provided services to 300 million workers and nearly 56 million employers, with around 40 percent of these employers situated in the manufacturing sector.
Youth employment remains a top priority, especially for college graduates. The Ministry plans to introduce a youth job creation program this year, which includes measures to boost employment opportunities for recent graduates. Throughout 2025, a series of activities will be organized to promote employment and entrepreneurship among young people, fostering a dynamic and innovative workforce.
Reference(s):
China adds 12.56m new urban jobs in 2024, employment situation stable
cgtn.com
