Job seekers review recruitment information at a job fair in Huzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, on March 2, 2026. Photo: VCG

China's overall employment situation remained generally stable during the first half, with 6.95 million new urban jobs created, unchanged from the same period last year, while the average surveyed urban unemployment rate stood at 5.2 percent, Cui Pengcheng, director-general of the policy research department and spokesperson of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, said at a press briefing on Wednesday.

The figures show that China is on track to meet its full-year target of creating more than 12 million new urban jobs while keeping the surveyed urban unemployment rate at about 5.5 percent this year. Analysts attributed the performance to several factors, including the resilient growth of the world's second-largest economy, the sustained impact of pro-employment policies, and fresh momentum from new industries - such as artificial intelligence (AI) - amid the broader economic upgrading. 

Based on calculations by the Global Times, the creation of 6.9 million new urban jobs in the first half means that China has achieved about 58 percent of its full-year target.

During the press briefing, Cui highlighted the country's stepped-up efforts in stabilizing the job market this year, including introducing policies to stabilize employment, as well as promoting the formulation of a development plan for human resources during the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period, and the action plan for stabilizing and expanding employment. The ministry has also deepened pilot programs for the integrated development of the human resources services industry and manufacturing.

The ministry has also strengthened large-scale vocational skills upgrading training. In collaboration with industry departments and mass organizations, it has carried out targeted training programs in five key areas - AI, advanced manufacturing, new-energy vehicles, elder care services, and the low-altitude economy, according to Cui.

With regard to promoting employment for key groups, Chinese authorities have introduced 16 policy measures to boost employment among college graduates and other young people, while also launching a 100-day campaign to bring employment public services into campuses. 

Li Changan, a professor at the Academy of China Open Economy Studies at the University of International Business and Economics, told the Global Times on Wednesday that China's policy system for stabilizing employment and supporting key groups has become more mature, while technological progress, industrial upgrading and new business models are opening up more job options.

A report sent by consulting firm PwC to the Global Times on Wednesday highlighted the structural optimization in China's labor market. The report, titled "2026 global AI employment barometer," showed that AI job recruitment in the Chinese mainland rebounded in 2025. The share of AI positions in overall recruitment increased by 6.4 percentage points, primarily driven by breakthroughs in AI technology and the accelerated adoption of AI across all industries.

In addition to AI-related positions, analysts also pointed to the rise of other new job positions, such as medical escorts, pet companions and online travel planning. 

In early July, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security released a development plan for human resources during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. 
On targets for reemployment, the plan set a target of helping 25 million unemployed urban workers find new jobs and keeping the urban surveyed unemployment rate within 5.5 percent over the next five years. The number of newly added urban jobs should also remain at a considerable scale.