China drafts policies to buoy job market amid tech, trade shift

China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security announced on Tuesday that it is drafting new employment support policies for key industries and groups, including a document addressing the impact of artificial intelligence on the job market.

The announcement, made during a news conference on the ministry's 2025 work report, comes as the world's second-largest economy seeks to stabilize employment amid technological disruption and rising global trade protectionism.

Official data released at the briefing showed that China's urban unemployment rate averaged 5.2 percent in 2025, with 12.67 million new urban jobs created, stabilizing the job market.

The ministry said it reduced unemployment insurance premiums for employers by 187.2 billion yuan ($26.1 billion) last year and disbursed 33.6 billion yuan in job stabilization refunds.

Future measures will include the "AI impact" policy document, a new five-year employment plan, and further expansion of the social insurance scheme to include the gig economy and flexible workers, according to the ministry's work report.

The report also highlighted ongoing reforms to the social safety net program, including a nationwide pilot for occupational injury insurance for gig workers that now covers 25.1 million people.