Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS)
National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)

Under the correct leadership of CPC Central Committee and State Council, local government at all levels were in accordance with the scientific concept of development and building a harmonious socialist society, by further intensify the work of employment, as well as improving the social security system construction, promote a harmonious and stable labor relations, earnestly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of laborers, steady carry forward the wage income distribution system reform, implement of “Talents Strengthening the Nation” strategy, deepen the reform of the personnel system to strengthen the development of qualified personnel, and human resources and legal system of social security and infrastructure, the labor and social security development achieved remarkable results in 2008.

I. Labor and Employment

National employment at year-end stood at 774.80 million persons, went up 4.90 million persons year-on-year. Of the total, the employment in primary industry reached 306.54 million persons, occupied 39.6 percent of national employment; that of secondary industry amounted for 211.09 million persons, accounted for 27.2 percent; that of tertiary industry totaled 257.17 million persons, took up 33.2 percent. The employment at year-end in urban areas valued at 302.10 million persons, increased 8.60 million persons, year-on-year. Of the total, the employment at year-end in urban units accounting for 121.93 million persons, rose by 1.69 million persons year-on-year. The on-duty staff and workers at year-end in urban units standing at 115.15 million persons, growing 8.8 thousand persons year-on-year.

The migrant workers hit 225.42 million persons at year-end, of the total, the number of migrant workers for work out side hometown totaled 140.41 million persons.

The new employment in urban areas was 11.13 million persons, 5 million laid-off and unemployed workers had found new jobs, of which, 1.43 million persons which have difficulties in employment are re-employed. The urban registered unemployed persons totaled 8.86 million, and registered urban unemployment rate was 4.2 percent. At the end of 2008, 996.5 thousand households so-called “Zero Employment Families” achieved at least one person per household employment, accounting for 99.9 percent of the total. Organized 34 thousand students engaged in “Educational, Agricultural, and Medical Support and Poverty Alleviation Project”.

At the end of 2008, a total of 217 thousand foreigners with working permits in China; for Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau employment working permits in the Mainland of China accounted for 89 thousand persons.

The supervision and management of human resources market has been strengthened, explored guidance and norms of network recruitment market, actively promote regional development and cooperation of human resources. The national total number of employment agencies at year-end reached 37,208 units, of the total, public employment agencies amounted to 24,410 units. The annual successful cases by public employment agencies hit 20.20 million persons, an increase of 2.0 percent year-on-year.

II. Social Insurance

Constantly improve on the social security system, social insurance coverage continues to expanding, the number of participants and fund scope continued to grow. The revenue and expanses of five social insurance funds stood at 1,369.6 and 992.5 billion yuan, an increase of 288.4 and 203.7 billion yuan year-on-year, and growth rate was 26.7and 25.8 percent respectively.

(I) Pension Insurance

The number of persons participated in basic pension insurance in urban areas at year-end amounted to 218.91 million, a rise of 17.54 million persons year-on-year. Of the total, number of employees and retirees stood at 165.87 and 53.04 million, which rose 14.04 and 3.50 million persons respectively, year-on-year. The number of migrant workers participated in basic pension insurance hit 24.16 million, expanding 5.70 million persons year-on-year. The number of enterprises participated in basic pension insurance grew to 199.51 million persons, rose by 17.16 million persons year-on-year.

The treatment on basic pensions for enterprise retirees improved, and all in full payment on schedule. The number of retirees brought into the community management arrived at 34.61 million, account for 73.2 percent, a year-on-year rise of 2.0 percentage points, year-on-year.