KUALA LUMPUR -  China’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said the nation created 12.1 million new urban jobs nationwide from January to November, surpassing its full-year target of 12 million, last Tuesday.

The figure also exceeded the 11.98 million urban jobs added during the same period last year, showing steady labor market growth.

The average surveyed urban unemployment rate stood at 5.2%, remaining below the government’s control target of 5.5%.

Experts called the stable labor market performance ‘hard-earned’ noting the pressure from a record 12.22 million college graduates entering the workforce this year.

The government implemented a series of pro-employment and economic support measures in 2025 to sustain job growth and stability.

During the Central Economic Work Conference in Beijing on December 10 and 11, authorities highlighted policies to expand and improve employment opportunities, prioritizing job security.

The policies focus on supporting key groups such as university graduates and migrant workers to stabilize employment.

The conference also encouraged flexible and gig economy workers to enroll in standard employee social security programs to enhance social protection.

A ministry official said future efforts will target job stabilization, quality improvement, vocational training, public employment services, and entrepreneurship support.

Experts described the employment numbers as impressive given current economic and geopolitical challenges.

An associate professor at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hu Naijun said the labor market’s resilience reflects a successful shift in China’s trade patterns.

“The share of exports to the United States, for example, has dropped sharply since 2018, while exports to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the European Union, and countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative have increased rapidly.

“There has been no evidence yet of large-scale labor substitution,” he said.

Hu added that while AI could replace some workers in certain sectors, it may also create new jobs.

He highlighted the growth of flexible academic roles like contract researchers as a way to absorb more graduates and reduce youth unemployment.

Hu called for stronger policy coordination to support entrepreneurship, noting small business owners still struggle with high social insurance costs despite tax reductions.

A professor at the University of International Business and Economics, Li Chang'an said the employment results reflect a multipronged approach combining fiscal and monetary measures, tax cuts, subsidies, and development of new productive sectors.

He said the employment-first strategy is expected to be refined during China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026 to 2030) to boost job creation through higher productivity.

Li emphasized that technological advances, including AI, bring both challenges and opportunities and stressed the need to protect workers in transition while harnessing new employment possibilities.