China adds 6.95m urban jobs in first half of year

China added 6.95 million new urban jobs nationwide in the first half of the year, accomplishing 58 percent of this year's target and maintaining an urban unemployment rate of 5 percent in June, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said on Tuesday.

A range of policies have been implemented to support job stability and business growth, including support for entrepreneurship, targeted assistance for key employment groups and enhanced vocational skills training, the ministry said.

In the first half of the year, more than 1,600 chief and top-level technicians were appointed, with 1.85 million individuals obtaining advanced vocational qualifications or skill-level certificates. During the period, the ministry introduced 17 new occupations and 42 new job types.

The government plans to conduct subsidized training for more than 10 million people annually over the next three years, the ministry said.

The government also plans to add positions in the digital, green, silver and nighttime economy. Youth entrepreneurship and rural migrant workers returning to their hometowns for business ventures will also be encouraged, it said.