No mass layoffs at internet companies, says NDRC

The recruitment and employment of internet enterprises are generally stable, without large-scale layoffs, said Meng Wei, spokesperson of the National Development and Reform Commission, at a news conference on Tuesday.

Meng said the NDRC has conducted research in a variety of ways recently, including meetings with relevant enterprises and industries, without finding large-scale layoffs at internet companies as reported earlier by some media.

The external environment is complex at present, and the economy is facing downward pressure due to changes. This pressure will be transmitted to the employment sector to some extent, the spokesperson added.

Official data showed that the number of newly-created jobs in urban areas reached 13.61 million in 2018, 100,000 more than the previous year and surpassing the government's annual target.

The number in 2018 rose for the sixth year in a row above 13 million.

China's surveyed unemployment rate in urban areas stood at 4.9 percent in December, 0.1 percentage point lower than that in December of the previous year.

China has tools and confidence to deal with risks and stabilize employment, Meng said.

Xinhua contributed to this story.