January 24 (Xinhua) — Yun Donglai, Deputy Director of the Employment Promotion Department of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, stated at the Ministry's fourth-quarter press conference that employment is the most basic livelihood issue and an important support for economic development. In 2023, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, together with relevant departments, conscientiously implemented the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, and thoroughly implemented the employment-first policy, achieving overall stability and positive improvement in employment. A total of 12.44 million new urban jobs were created nationwide; employment among college graduates and other young people was basically stable and continued to improve; the scale of rural laborers working away from home continued to increase; and the number of people lifted out of poverty who found employment reached 33.97 million.

　　Yun Donglai stated that, in terms of trends, the foundation for stable employment work in 2024 is generally solid. Economic growth will further recover, the transformation of old and new growth drivers will accelerate, and new employment growth points will continue to emerge, providing solid support for stabilizing employment. At the same time, uncertainties in economic operation are increasing, social expectations are relatively weak, the overall pressure on employment remains undiminished, and structural contradictions still exist, so stabilizing employment will require more effort.

　　Yun Donglai said that next, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security will adhere to the principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability, promoting stability through progress, and establishing the new before abolishing the old, give greater prominence to the employment-first orientation, accelerate the improvement of mechanisms for promoting high-quality full employment, and intensify efforts to consolidate the positive employment trend.

　　First, give greater prominence to policy coordination. Promote the simultaneous assessment of employment impacts when non-economic policies are introduced, and enhance the employment-driving force of economic and social development. Improve support systems such as fiscal subsidies, tax incentives, financial support, and social security, and unleash the dividends of policies that promote employment.

　　Second, give greater prominence to job creation. Improve the coordinated system linking employment and industry, launch actions to promote employment through advanced manufacturing, expand employment space in the digital economy, green economy, and silver economy, increase support for private enterprises and small, medium, and micro enterprises that have a strong capacity to absorb employment, and extend employment services for key enterprises to small and medium-sized enterprises.

　　Third, give greater prominence to entrepreneurship-driven employment. Improve the guarantee system for entrepreneurship-driven employment, build a chain-style service system covering guaranteed loans, tax and fee reductions, and venue arrangements, hold entrepreneurship activities, and promote the standardized development of the gig labor market.

　　Fourth, give greater prominence to key groups. Strengthen employment support for college graduates and other young people, expand job opportunities, and build a service system that connects on-campus and off-campus services. Strengthen employment assistance for people lifted out of poverty and older rural laborers, deepen labor service cooperation, strengthen labor service brands, and build an employment pattern that coordinates urban and rural areas. Strengthen assistance for people with employment difficulties, improve the employment assistance system, and ensure that the employment bottom line is firmly and accurately protected.

　　Fifth, give greater prominence to service matching. Improve the public service system, strengthen digital empowerment and grassroots governance, launch a national public employment service platform, build "doorstep" employment service stations, and intensify the "10+N" employment service activities to increase market activity.