Implement policy measures fast to ensure jobs

The central authorities issued a package of pro-job measures on Wednesday to assist young people. The unemployment rate in the 16-24 age group, not including students, was 18.8 percent last month.

The measures call for the establishment of an employment impact assessment mechanism.

The document also asks for actively responding to the impact of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence on employment.

It proposes to address structural employment contradictions, or the mismatch between labor forces and job vacancies. It focuses on promoting high-quality development in higher education, expanding college enrollment in science, engineering, agriculture, and medical fields, and optimizing the introduction of college majors based on social needs and industry demand.

Furthermore, the document pays attention to the coordination of employment-related support measures. For example, it stresses the need to eliminate institutional and systemic barriers that hinder the mobility of labor and talent and remove unreasonable restrictions based on region, identity, gender and age that impede equal employment opportunities.

Especially it mentions that women's legal rights in employment and career development must be guaranteed, alongside the establishment of a supportive system for maternity protection and inclusive childcare, to create a family-friendly employment environment.

By vowing to boost high-quality employment, the document not only maximizes the synergy of various employment-promoting policies but also helps to stabilize societal expectations regarding employment-related policies.

It is time for the various departments and local authorities to hasten implementation of the policies, to realize expected results sooner.