In the government work reports from 2014 to 2016, the word “employment” was mentioned 29, 23, and 25 times, respectively. Premier Li Keqiang stressed repeatedly that employment is an important indicator of economic performance, a “stabilizer” for society, and has a vital bearing on people’s livelihood.

Premier’s stance on employment

Premier Li presides over a symposium on Jan 25, attended by economists and enterprise representatives. The event was to gather opinions on drafts of the annual government work report and guidelines for the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20). [Photo/China News Service]

Data on China’s economic growth always gets the most attention. However, for the Chinese government, employment situation in the country is the top concern.

-- At Summer Davos Forum on Sept 9, 2014

Employment rate is an important indicator of economic performance.

-- Chairing a State Council executive meeting on June 10, 2015

Employment is people’s top concern, and it should be attached great importance. There is no meaning if the economy is growing but employment is declining.

-- Presiding over a symposium of economists and enterprise representatives on Jan 25, 2016

China’s economy will be steady if the state of employment remains stable. This is a highlight of China’s economy in recent times.

-- Addressing a State Council executive meeting on Feb 14, 2016

Premier’s promises on employment

Premier Li delivers a government work report at the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 12th National People’s Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

From 2014 to 2016, the government work reports promised each year to create over 10 million new urban employment opportunities, and good results have been witnessed.

In 2014, new urban employment opportunities reached 13.22 million, exceeding projections.

In 2015, the number of new urban jobs reached 13.12 million, also surpassing the annual goal.

In the first half of 2016, the number reached 7.17 million, reaching 71.7 percent of this year’s target.

Premier’s solutions for high-quality employment

Premier Li inspects the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security on May 6 and presides over a symposium on employment. [Photo/China News Service]

In the past three years, employment has been a frequently-mentioned word wherever Premier Li went.

Employment should be driven by entrepreneurship. The combination of the two is a kind of employment transformation.

We should focus more on improving the quality of human resource, and the knowledge, intelligence and technical skill of laborers.

In recent years, we never stopped cutting taxes for small and medium-sized enterprises. This is for their better business operation and increasing employment.

Private economy has been the major channel absorbing job seekers. If we want to expand employment, we must promote a quicker development of private economy.

-- At an employment work conference on May 6, 2016

The key targets of employment are university graduates, secondary vocational school graduates and migrant workers. Graduates and migrant workers are two different groups of people that we should handle properly. Only in that way can we maintain a steady employment situation and economic society.

-- At an employment work conference on May 6, 2016

We should further promote the employment and entrepreneurship of university students, enhance the connection of supply and demand in the job market, and expand employment channels. We should further promote administration streamlining and power delegation, and the reform of the commercial system to relieve the burden for graduates to participate in entrepreneurship and innovation. We should speed up the development of new economy, creating new technologies, industries and patterns to produce more jobs for the group of high-quality youths.

-- In instructions to a national videophone conference for employment and entrepreneurship of university graduates on May 20, 2016

Implement and improve the residence permit system and service for migrant workers. Enable more migrant workers to become new-type workers with skills and new citizens who can also enjoy benefits.

--In instructions to a national honoring ceremony for outstanding migrant workers and groups on Feb 1, 2016

Over 21 million migrant workers should go through training to improve their job skills.

-- 2016 Government Work Report, March 5, 2016

We must ensure good vocational training and underlying guarantee when promoting reducing capacity in steel and coal industries. Large number of job losses must not appear.

-- At an employment work conference on May 6, 2016