Job seekers inquire about job opportunities at a job fair for college graduates in Jinhua City, east China's Zhejiang Province, July 21, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), China's employment situation has been bolstered by a series of supportive policies and remained generally stable while its structure continued to be optimized and the quality of employment steadily improved, Wang Xiaoping, minister of human resources and social security, said on Friday.

As of August, a total of 59.21 million new urban jobs had been created since the beginning of the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), surpassing the target of 55 million, Wang told a press conference.

The average urban surveyed unemployment rate from 2021 to 2024 stood at 5.3%, below the preset control target of 5.5%.

The 14th Five-Year Plan period witnessed both rapid development and considerable challenges in the realm of employment, which is the cornerstone of people's well-being, said Wang, adding that concerted efforts have been made to promote full employment.

Since 2021, over 470 billion yuan (about $66.06 billion) has been allocated for employment subsidies, while more than 130 billion yuan has been issued in the form of employment stabilization refunds.

China's social security system saw continuous improvement during the 2021-2025 period. The number of participants in the basic pension insurance schemes exceeded 1.07 billion, and its coverage rate rose from 91% by the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020) to over 95%.

The number of people covered by unemployment insurance and workplace injury insurance reached 246 million and 302 million, respectively, marking an increase of over 29 million and 34 million since the end of 2020.

China has stepped up support for key employment groups, such as college graduates, recognizing that safeguarding their jobs is fundamental to overall employment stability and directly impacts people's well-being, said Yan Qinghui, vice minister of human resources and social security.

A comprehensive support package has been provided to help graduates secure jobs, starting with on-campus services before graduation. For those still seeking jobs after graduation, measures such as career guidance, job matching and training opportunities are made available, Yan said.

He added that efforts have also been made to maintain stable employment for migrant workers, particularly those lifted out of poverty, and to help the unemployed in returning to work smoothly and as quickly as possible.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China's economic strength has been significantly enhanced, and its industrial structure has been continuously optimized, laying a foundation for stabilizing employment, said Wang, adding that new growth drivers have been cultivated.

China now has more than 220 million skilled workers, including over 72 million highly skilled professionals, a vital force for achieving high-level self-reliance and strength in science and technology, as well as developing a modernized industrial system.

To meet talent demands fueled by high-quality economic development, China has recognized 72 new professions in sectors including digital economy, modern services and smart manufacturing over the past five years, Yan said.

China will bolster vocational training programs in support of workers transitioning into new professions, he added.