Job seekers at a talent recruitment market in Beijing on May 21, 2021. [Photo/VCG]
China will employ an array of policy measures to boost job creation this year, as it has a direct bearing on people's livelihoods, the State Council, the country's Cabinet, said on Friday.
The country will work harder to unlock the potential of new employment opportunities, with a focus on key sectors such as advanced manufacturing, consumer services and public welfare, to see that the benefits of economic progress are translated into greater employment-generating capacity, according to a State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Qiang.
The government will take decisive steps to provide tailored employment support for key groups, including through increased access to specialized loans, enhanced government-backed financing guarantees, and the expansion of one-time job creation incentives.
Meanwhile, the country will launch a large-scale vocational training initiative. This multifaceted program aims to bolster investment in training resources, strengthen training infrastructure and deepen the involvement of enterprises across various sectors, it was stated at the meeting.
By designing sector-specific training plans, the government is ensuring that skills being developed are closely aligned with the evolving needs of industries and the broader economy.
The country will strive for the optimal combination of stable economic growth, steady job creation and reasonable price rebounds in 2025, as outlined during the annual Central Economic Work Conference at which the nation's policymakers set the policy agenda for the world's second-largest economy in mid-December.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, along with another seven departments including the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, initiated a nationwide campaign that will run from mid-January to mid-March.
The focus of the initiative is to provide job-matching services to connect rural laborers with employment, and meet entrepreneurial needs for suitable workers.
It's important to recognize that despite the overall strength of the economy, there are persistent structural imbalances in the employment landscape that require focused attention and action, said Fu Linghui, a spokesman with the National Bureau of Statistics, at a news conference on Friday.
Certain parts of the population, including younger demographics, are experiencing difficulties and pressure in finding employment, thus underscoring the need for continued efforts to stabilize the job market, Fu said.
The surveyed urban unemployment rate on average in China stood at 5.1 percent in 2024, down 0.1 percentage point from 2023. The country has also witnessed a 5.1 percent year-on-year growth in per capita household disposable income, keeping pace with the broader economic expansion, Fu said.
