China Records 6.95 Million New Urban Jobs in First Half of the Year

Figures released at a press briefing hosted by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security on 22 July show that 6.95 million new urban jobs were created across China between January and June, with employment conditions staying generally stable.

Authorities rolled out a suite of employment support policies including the Action Plan for Stabilising Posts, Expanding Employment and Upgrading Quality throughout the first six months. Policy measures target employment for priority groups alongside large-scale vocational skills training drives. 

Specialised training programmes have been delivered across five key sectors: artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, new energy vehicles, health and elderly care services, and low-altitude economy. More than 5.5 million subsidised training places have been delivered in this period.

China’s social security framework continued to improve over the first half of the year. By the end of June, enrolment stood at 1.076 billion participants for basic pension insurance, 249 million for unemployment insurance, and 323 million for work injury insurance including occupational injury protection schemes. 

The respective year-on-year increases reached 4.73 million, 4.35 million and 22.83 million participants.

The national social security card scheme covers 1.39 billion people, while 1.114 billion individuals have activated electronic social security cards. A total of 189 nationwide service functions are now accessible via the digital card platform.

Local employment bodies will continue aligning vocational training content with evolving industrial labour demands. Ongoing adjustments to social security mechanisms will expand coverage and streamline digital public service access for participants nationwide.