China aims for 11m jobs in 2021
Figure jumps from 2020, strained by new workers
China is planning to create 11 million new jobs in 2021, a jump from the 9 million in 2020, which analysts said suggests that the country’s job policy will steer toward the post-pandemic era as the COVID-19 situation in the world’s second-largest economy is firmly contained.
While officials and economists also pointed out that as the country is expected to have about 15 million new urban workers this year, the challenges in the job market will be more severe than ever.
The job creation target was made in the country’s 2021 Government Work Report, which was delivered by Premier Li Keqiang on Friday at the opening of the fourth session of the 13th National People’s Congress, China’s top legislative body.
“We will continue to improve the employment-first policy to enhance its performance,” said Premier Li, adding that the country will work to keep the employment situation stable, provide adequate fiscal, tax, and financial policy support to businesses that do not cut jobs or only cut a small number of them.
The government also vowed to ensure employment for key groups such as college graduates, ex-service members, and rural migrant workers, support the development of new forms of employment and expand the scope of the use of vocational skills training funds.
Last year, China managed to create 11.86 million new jobs, significantly higher than the 9 million target, despite extreme challenges amid the pandemic.
“Due to the complicated situation in 2020, the central government launched a series of special support policies to ease pressure on the job market – for instance, expanding graduate enrollment and civil service recruitment,” Li Chang’an, a professor at the University of International Business and Economics’ School of Public Administration, told the Global Times.
“However, these policies may gradually be rolled back as China has entered a new development phase, adding to the difficulty for the job market,” said the professor.
Guo Wei, vice director of the Research Office of the State Council, said on Friday the 11 million target is the same as the 2019 goal. “As the economy is still in the recovering process, the market situation remains complicated and severe, and various uncertainties are still increasing. To accomplish this goal, the task this year may be very arduous, and even greater efforts are needed,” Guo explained.
The pressure on employment this year is unabated, said Zhang Ji’nan, Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, last month.