“It is very important to ensure a stable job market in such a special year like 2021,” according to the conclusions of a national employment conference organised by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

03:05

What happened at the Chinese Communist Party’s major policy meeting, the fifth plenum?

What happened at the Chinese Communist Party’s major policy meeting, the fifth plenum?

“We must set our sights on a fuller and higher-quality employment target … using every means to stabilise and expand job markets,” the ministry said on its website on Wednesday.

College graduates, rural migrant workers and poor urban families were identified as groups that should receive government support next year.

The government should also turn the temporary support used to offset the shock of the coronavirus into long-term policies over the next five years, it added.

Wen Bin, chief analyst with the China Minsheng Banking Corp, said the work conference is likely to focus on stabilising the economy because recovery in some sectors remains weak.

“We are generally optimistic about the overall economic recovery next year. However, for the sake of employment, there is no need to rush to exit existing support measures, particularly those for small businesses,” he said.

Beijing has always prioritised support for the domestic job market, given the potential for unemployment to affect social stability. Official data showed that employment has improved this year as the economy recovered.

The rate is even lower than the government’s target of 6 per cent for this year. About 11 million new urban jobs were created in the first 11 months, surpassing the government’s full-year target of 9 million, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

05:06

Millions of new blue-collar jobs are piling on pressure for many workers in China

Millions of new blue-collar jobs are piling on pressure for many workers in China

However, the government figures are generally believed to underestimate the extent of problems in the job market, since many of China’s 290 million migrant workers are not included or covered by government unemployment relief measures.

Beijing has taken limited steps this year to boost employment, such as promoting street vending and flexible jobs, which have helped improve jobless statistics but done little for workers’ incomes.

The world’s second largest economy will face even greater employment pressure next year. A record high of about 9.09 million university graduates will enter the job market, increasing from 8.74 million this year, the Ministry of Education said.

Many small businesses, particularly in China’s services sector, remain vulnerable to the lingering impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

01:47

China GDP: economy grew by 4.9 per cent in third quarter of 2020

China GDP: economy grew by 4.9 per cent in third quarter of 2020

Zhang Jinan, the minister for Human Resources and Social Security, has called for policies that provide timely support for the unemployed, including living subsidies, job vacancy information and training.

“Public service positions are needed if there’s not enough created by the market,” he wrote last month in a book outlining the government’s long-term devlopment vision.

Structural issues – including skilled labour shortages and a lack of information about available jobs – were big problems that the government must help tackle, he said.

“These phenomena will stand out as economic restructuring and industrial upgrading continues,” he added.