Government and Policy

China issues white paper on human resources

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-09-10 15:44

BEIJING - The Chinese government Friday issued a white paper on its human resources, highlighting the country's policies to cope with employment pressures and a lack of "high-level innovative talents."

The white paper, released by the State Council Information Office, introduced the country's human resources situation, related laws and regulations and protection of workers' rights and interests.

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It says China's 1.3 billion population was "a vast reservoir of human resources," and "actively developing human resources, bringing into full play the potential ability and value of each individual and promoting the people's all-round development" is a significant aim.

China has a labor force of more than 1 billion people, 112 million more than in 2000, and the number of employees reached almost 780 million.

A nine-year compulsory education was made universal throughout the country in 2000, and illiteracy among people between the ages of 20 and 50 was basically eliminated, it says.

By the end of 2009, the average schooling of people above 15 years old had reached nearly 8.9 years, while that of the majority of the working population was 9.5 years, of which 9.9 percent had received higher education, it says.

The paper says "people having professional knowledge or special skills who contribute to society through creative work are highly regarded in China." By the end of 2008, "the high-quality labor force" had reached 114 million.