VICE Premier Hu Chunhua has called for all-out efforts to strengthen the job-first strategy and ensure fuller and higher-quality employment.

He made the remarks while presiding over a Tuesday meeting of the State Council leading group on employment work.

Noting that this year’s employment work is full of risks and challenges, Hu underlined more support for enterprises to stabilize employment, expand new jobs, and find ways to reduce the adverse effects of the epidemic.

Hu called for enhancing support for key groups of jobseekers, expanding employment channels for college graduates, and ensuring stable employment for workers out of poverty.

Localities and relevant government departments should improve the quality of vocational skills training, shore up the weak links in the rights and interests of flexible employment, and create a better employment environment, said Hu.

China’s urban unemployment rate stood at 5.2 percent in December, down from a record high of 6.2 percent in February 2020 during the worst of the coronavirus pandemic within the country.

The country said 11.86 million new urban jobs were created last year, beating the government’s target of 9 million but down from the 13.52 million jobs created in 2019.(Xinhua)