Ministry: Domestic jobs stable for last decade

The domestic job market has remained stable for the past ten years as a result of supportive policies and central government guidance.

According to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, urban employment has continued to increase for the past ten years, with the newly employed population growing by 13 million per year. 

The structure of the job market has also improved, with those employed by the service industries increasing to 48 percent of the total working population last year. Back in 2012, the figure was 36 percent.

Additionally, professional skills have improved. According to the ministry, there are over 200 million skilled workers in China, including over 60 million classified as senior workers with a higher skill level.

Since 2012, a sound social security system has been put in place. For example, the State-level pension insurance now covers 1.04 billion people, an increase of 250 million on the previous figure of 790 million in 2012.

Li Zhong, the ministry's vice-minister, told a news conference on Thursday in Beijing that the country still faces great employment pressure and a structural imbalance in the job market, and making the social security system more sound is a long-term strategic mission.