Minister: China confident in maintaining stable employment situation

With the momentum of China's economic recovery continuing to be consolidated and strengthened, China is confident in maintaining a stable employment situation, China's Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Wang Xiaoping said on Saturday.

Wang made the remarks during a press conference held by the second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on issues including education, employment, social security, housing, medical care and disease control, in Beijing.

China's job market has gotten off to a good start since the beginning of this year, Wang said, noting that enterprises have resumed production, migrant workers have returned to work in a smooth and orderly manner.

There is strong demand for talent in fields such as artificial intelligence and big data, she told journalists, adding that demand is also on the rise in sectors including health care, accommodation, catering and cultural tourism.

Such demand proves that China's economy is picking up momentum, and reflects the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries and the accelerated development of new quality productive forces, according to the minister.

Wang said the country will release stimulative measures to stabilize the job market and improve people's livelihoods, such as continuing preferential social insurance policies and financial support, and broadening employment channels by supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

The measures also include optimizing employment services and ensuring the employment of major groups.

(With input from Xinhua)

(Cover: A view of a local job fair in Taiyuan, north China's Shanxi Province, March 2, 2024. /CFP)