China plans to introduce new measures to boost employment through services-sector development after adding 10.52 million urban jobs in the first nine months of 2026, achieving 87.7% of its annual target.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security will work with other government departments to formulate a policy document aimed at strengthening the services sector’s role in absorbing workers, Vice-Minister and spokesperson Li Zhong said at a State Council Information Office press conference on Saturday.
According to Reuters, the ministry also plans to stabilise employment in labour-intensive industries while identifying new job opportunities in emerging and future industries.
Despite the progress in job creation, China’s surveyed urban unemployment rate averaged 5.2% from January to August, ministry officials said, adding that employment had remained generally stable.
Meanwhile, social insurance coverage continued to expand. By the end of September, 1.079 billion people were enrolled in basic pension insurance, while unemployment insurance covered 251 million people and work-injury insurance covered 327 million.
The three social insurance funds had a combined balance of 11.2 trillion yuan (US$1.67 trillion).
