Cheng Kai, chairman of the China Disabled Persons' Federation, Zhou Changkui, secretary of the Communist Party of China leading group of the federation and chairperson of the board of executive directors of the federation, and Li Dongmei, vice chairperson of the federation, attend a press conference held by the State Council Information Office on the achievements in developing the cause of people with disabilities during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), in Beijing, capital of China, July 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

Number of employees with disabilities nationwide reached 9.01 million with cumulative new employment of persons with disabilities in urban and rural areas totaling 2.31 million during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, said Cheng Kai, chairman of the China Disabled Persons' Federation, at a press conference on Tuesday.

China has implemented a three-year action plan to promote employment for persons with disabilities (2022-24). The three-year action plan created 1.648 million new jobs for persons with disabilities, Cheng said. 

Vice Chairperson Li Dongmei of the China Disabled Persons' Federation announced a new round of the three-year action plan (2025-27) at a press conference last week.

An increasing number of persons with disabilities have entered new forms of employment, such as internet platform jobs. Meanwhile, a group of skilled technicians with disabilities have delivered outstanding performances in domestic and international vocational competitions, Cheng said. 

The annual net income of households with disabled members has maintained steady growth, averaging an annual growth of 6.9 percent between 2020 and 2023, roughly in line with China's GDP growth, said Cheng. Meanwhile, vocational trainings for persons with disabilities exceed 2.17 million. 

During China's poverty alleviation campaign, more than 7 million persons with disabilities registered in the national poverty database successfully lifted out of poverty, marking a new beginning for their lives and endeavors.

However, Cheng also admitted persons with disabilities remain the demographic most at risk of returning to poverty or becoming newly impoverished in rural areas. 

As of year-end 2023, China's poverty prevention system tracked 991,000 disabled individuals. This accounted for 12.1 percent of all monitored cases and the figure showed year-on-year growth. 

He mentioned that disabled individuals generally have limited employment opportunities, and most available jobs are low-skilled or temporary, with limited options for physically demanding work. Majority rely on nearby odd jobs for supplemental income.

China has enhanced its targeted support system for persons with disabilities. Eligible persons with disabilities are systematically incorporated into multi-level social assistance and CPC cadre pairing support programs, according to Cheng.

China's education system for persons with disabilities has been further improved, with 97 percent of children with disabilities now enrolled in compulsory education, said Cheng. Current statistics show, 75,800 disabled students enrolled in secondary vocational education, 59,800 disabled students attending regular high schools and over 30,000 students with disabilities entering higher education annually, Cheng said.

Global Times