Support stabilizes urban job market

China's urban job market remained broadly stable in the first half of this year, supported by large-scale skills training and targeted employment measures, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said on Wednesday, pledging to step up support for key groups, particularly unemployed university graduates.

From January to June, 6.95 million new urban jobs were created, unchanged from the same period last year, while the surveyed urban unemployment rate averaged 5.2 percent, the ministry said.

To strengthen workforce skills, the ministry expanded vocational training programs in five priority sectors: artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, new energy vehicles, health and elderly care services and the low-altitude economy.

Government-subsidized training covered more than 5.5 million person-times in the first half of the year. During the period, about 4.82 million person-times obtained professional qualifications or skill level certificates, including nearly 1.94 million at the advanced skill level or above.

In addition, 95 national occupational standards were approved and released, and 13,000 postdoctoral researchers were recruited.

The ministry also upgraded public employment services. Among the recent initiatives was a monthlong online recruitment campaign for internet companies aimed at improving the quality and efficiency of employment services.

As of the end of June, the combined balance of China's basic pension, unemployment and work-related injury insurance funds reached 11.07 trillion yuan ($1.63 trillion), indicating that the funds were operating smoothly overall, the ministry said.

On labor rights protection, a provisional regulation safeguarding the basic rights of overage workers took effect on July 1. The ministry said protections for workers in new forms of employment are also being strengthened. It added that authorities have been closely monitoring wage arrears on government and State-owned enterprise projects as part of an ongoing crackdown on unpaid wages.

The ministry is also rolling out a nationwide employment campaign targeting the class of 2026, many of whom have already left university but are still seeking jobs.

Huang Junmei, an official with the ministry's employment promotion department, told a news conference on Wednesday that graduates can locate their nearest public employment service center by searching the "National Employment Public Service Map" on their mobile phones. They can also submit job-seeking information through official platforms, including the State Council app and the national government service portal, to receive free job recommendations and career guidance.

She said every unemployed 2026 graduate will receive at least one policy briefing, one career guidance session, three job referrals and one vocational training or internship opportunity. Recruitment events will continue almost without interruption from now through December.

"Human resources and social security authorities at all levels will go all out to strengthen the supply of high-quality employment policies and services, working solidly to help graduates find suitable jobs," Huang said.