In our conversation today, we explore the evolving mission of employment in the new era of China, particularly emphasizing the promotion of high-quality, full employment. Recently, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council unveiled a strategic opinion aimed at implementing an employment-first strategy. This initiative outlines a systematic approach to enhance employment promotion mechanisms across the country.

In a meeting held on September 26, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee delved into the current economic landscape, highlighting the crucial need to protect the minimum living standards for the public and prioritize employment efforts for specific demographic groups.

Employment isn’t just a statistic; it’s a core element of people’s livelihoods. It directly impacts individual interests, the healthy development of the economy and society, and the long-term stability of the nation. General Secretary Xi Jinping has placed significant emphasis on employment issues. During his visits to local areas, he has shown a consistent focus on employment conditions and hosted key meetings to strategize employment initiatives, reaffirming the necessity of promoting high-quality, full employment. For instance, on May 27, he led the 14th collective study session of the 20th Central Political Bureau, where he laid out eight key practices that will guide employment work going forward. These practices prioritize employment as the foundation of livelihoods, advocate for an employment-first strategy, emphasize job creation through development, integrate efforts to improve job quality, focus on employment for key demographic groups, encourage entrepreneurship, promote equitable employment conditions, and foster harmonious labor relations.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party, under Xi Jinping’s leadership, there has been a concerted effort to prioritize employment in governance. This has resulted in historic achievements, including a favorable environment with ample job opportunities and fair employment practices. The establishment of a comprehensive employment work system that leverages digital empowerment, effective management, and legal safeguards has been a game-changer. Urban employment has steadily grown, unemployment has been controlled effectively, and labor participation rates remain stable. Initiatives to modernize human resources, enhance public employment services, and expand social insurance coverage are also underway to ensure that everyone has an opportunity for personal growth through their labor.

However, it’s important to acknowledge the structural challenges in employment that arise from shifting population and economic dynamics. The recent opinion recognizes the main contradictions within the employment sector and emphasizes the need for high-quality development. Adhering to Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is vital as we pursue our employment goals. This includes maintaining a people-centered approach, allowing laborers the freedom to seek employment, relying on market adjustments, and providing governmental support for job creation.

Moving forward, the challenge lies in driving high-quality development while reinforcing employment policies, addressing structural employment issues, and implementing effective reforms. By doing so, we can reduce the risk of large-scale unemployment and enhance both the quality and quantity of job opportunities. This will ultimately ensure stable jobs, reasonable income, reliable protections, and a safe working environment, which, in turn, will boost workers’ sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security.

The impact of employment extends to countless families. Promoting high-quality full employment is not just an economic issue; it’s a response to the aspirations of the people for a better life and is essential for advancing Chinese-style modernization through high-quality development. It’s crucial for all regions and agencies to fully embrace the directives outlined in the recent opinion, leveraging the lessons learned in promoting high-quality full employment. Employment must remain a top priority as we work to sustain the employment-first approach and contribute to the construction of Chinese-style modernization.