Officials announced that employment promotion will remain a top priority during the fifteenth Five-Year Plan period following steady gains in urban hiring.
China’s job market set for further support under new plan
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China’s job market is slated for continued policy support and structural improvements throughout the fifteenth Five-Year Plan period spanning from 2026 to 2030, according to recent announcements by government officials in Beijing.
During a recent news conference reported by China Daily, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security spokesman and vice-minister Li Zhong outlined plans to prioritise full and high-quality employment. Figures released by the ministry indicate that approximately 10.52 million individuals secured urban jobs during the first nine months of 2026, successfully achieving 87.7 percent of the annual target. Meanwhile, the surveyed urban unemployment rate averaged 5.2 percent across the first eight months of the year.
Looking back at the fourteenth Five-Year Plan period covering 2021 to 2025, more than 62 million people found urban employment while the surveyed urban unemployment rate hovered around 5.2 percent. Building upon this foundation, authorities told China Daily they intend to foster a fairer working environment, improve labor relations, and balance labor supply and demand over the upcoming four years.
Navigating challenges in China’s job market
To address emerging economic shifts, the ministry plans to deploy proactive fiscal and financial measures. Particular attention will be directed toward mitigating the impact of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, on China’s job market. Officials emphasised that greater emphasis will be placed on stabilising employment within labor-intensive and service industries while simultaneously fostering emerging sectors.
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Song Xin, director of the ministry’s employment promotion department, told China Daily that authorities will encourage employers to retain existing positions and expand recruitment through targeted tax cuts and subsidies. Furthermore, government departments and state-owned enterprises are expected to maintain regular recruitment plans, ensuring continuous opportunities for young people through initiatives like the Westward Project, which places university graduates in grassroots roles across education, healthcare, agriculture, and public services.
To tackle structural mismatches between supply and demand, the ministry aims to deliver government-subsidized vocational training to 10 million people annually, helping 40 million citizens obtain recognized skills certificates over the five-year timeframe. Additionally, enhanced protections and fair hiring practices will be rolled out to safeguard the rights of flexible and gig workers.
