During the first half of the year, China saw a decrease in the average urban unemployment rate to 5.3 percent, marking a 0.2 percentage point drop from the first quarter, said Jin Xiandong, the director of the Policy Research Office, at China's National Development and Reform Commission's (NDRC), during Tuesday morning's press conference. The NDRC is China's top economic planner. 

Moreover, he added, new urban job creation reached 6.78 million, surpassing the previous year's figure by 240,000 and achieving 56.5 percent of the year's target.

Jin attributed this positive shift to the combined effect of economic recovery and the effective execution of employment stabilization policies following the COVID-19 pandemic.

In light of the employment challenges faced by key groups, notably college graduates, he further elaborated that the government plans to bolster economic measures and provide professional consultation services and vocational education to these targeted individuals. The overarching aim is to enhance their employability and support the fortification of job stability and expansion.

Adding his perspective, Liu Yuanchun, a macroeconomist and president of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, agreed, expressing that economic development serves as a crucial instrument for maintaining employment. 

He held high expectations for the resurgence of the service industry, which he believes will contribute significantly to resolving employment issues. Furthermore, Liu conveyed his belief in the potential impact of introducing stability measures in the real estate and construction industries, along with providing support to the foreign trade sector. He expressed confidence that such measures could lead to a significant reduction in the unemployment rate by this coming autumn.