China created 10.49 million new urban jobs in the first three quarters

During a press conference held by China’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security on October 25, 2023, it was announced that there have been 10.49 million new urban jobs created from January to September, with the national urban unemployment rate standing at 5.1% in September.

The spokesperson for the Ministry, Chen Feng, highlighted the government’s focused efforts on youth employment, particularly targeting college graduates. He detailed several initiatives, including the implementation of new employment and entrepreneurship support policies and an employment service initiative. Additionally, the ministry has restarted its one-time unemployment insurance subsidy policy, allocating 900 million yuan to 170,000 enterprises, directly benefiting 620,000 young individuals, including recent college graduates. A total of 43,000 college graduates have been dispatched to grassroots areas to engage in programs such as the “Three Supports and One Assistance” initiative.

Moreover, the ministry is committed to supporting employment among populations that have recently been lifted out of poverty; by the end of September, 33.016 million of these individuals were employed.

Looking ahead, the Ministry outlined several key strategies aimed at stabilizing and increasing employment opportunities. These include enhancing vocational skills training, implementing targeted support for key demographics, optimizing employment and entrepreneurship services, and reinforcing labor rights protection.

The Ministry also expressed its determination to foster new employment growth points by launching special initiatives in advanced manufacturing and the silver economy, while effectively utilizing policies like tax exemptions, employment subsidies, and job retention grants to support companies in maintaining and expanding their workforce.