Red Star News:

This year the youth unemployment rate has remained high, and the number of college graduates reached another record high. The employment of young people has attracted wide public attention. What has the MOHRSS done to promote the employment of college graduates and other young people? What are the subsequent arrangements and plans? Thank you.

Zhang Ying:

Thank you for your questions. The employment of young people such as college graduates bears on people's well-being, economic development, and future of the country. Over the past decade, the total number of college graduates in China has continued to increase, with the employment rate of this group of people remaining relatively high, and employment situation generally stable. Meanwhile, the employment of college graduates faces both pressures from aggregate job creation and structural problems. Significantly since the beginning of this year, due to sporadic cases of COVID-19 in some areas, demands in job markets have decreased, some recruiting and job hunting events have been canceled or delayed, and some young people have encountered new difficulties in job hunting. This matter is very important to the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. The plan on boosting employment for the 14th Five-Year Plan period has a particular chapter concerning youth employment. The General Office of the State Council has issued opinions on supporting the employment and entrepreneurship of college graduates and other young people. A series of targeted policies and measures have been launched to help them find jobs and start businesses through every feasible means. The MOHRSS will implement these policies and prioritize the employment of college graduates and other young people. Centering around the employment service campaign, we will strengthen policy support, services, assistance to those in need, and the protection of rights and interests, and boost employment and business startups through multiple channels. The steps can be summarized as "four strengthening measures and one simplifying measure."

First, policy support will be strengthened. We will offer subsidies for ensuring and expanding employment and for paying into the country's social insurance pool, in a bid to encourage enterprises to hire more. We will implement policies such as tuition compensation and higher salaries for college graduates working in less-developed and remote areas and carry out programs for them to work in rural areas in the fields of agriculture, education, medical care and poverty alleviation, so as to provide more jobs at grassroots level. We will provide policies such as secured loans, tax and fee reductions, and social insurance payment subsidies to support business startups and flexible employment.

Second, strengthen the organization of employment. We will continue to establish employment service platforms for college graduates and host a large number of online and offline job fairs. We will continue to provide career guidance, job recommendations, training, and internship opportunities for youth, including college graduates. Additionally, we will organize apprentice training and training related to new careers for those who need to increase their experience and skills. 

Third, help those in difficulties. We will continue to launch paired assistance for those unemployed graduates and provide individual solutions and preferential policies such as priority in job recommendations, internships, and training. For those unemployed for a long time, we will establish a special plan to provide practical guidance and differentiated guidance so that they can find work quickly. 

Fourth, strength rights protection. We will continue to maintain market order by investigating and sanctioning employment discrimination, irregular intermediaries, and false employment. Report and complaint channels will continue to be smoothed to protect college graduates' lawful rights and interests.

Fifth, streamline employment procedures. We will continue the policy to cancel the signature and stamp procedure required from public employment service institutions on employment protocols and graduates' registration with public institutions. We will continue to facilitate the job hunting and employment of college graduates by prolonging periods for mailing personal files and permanent residency registration and by promoting universal recognition of health checkup results.

In general, the MOHRSS will spare no effort to support and help the youth, including college graduates, to get employment or start a business. Thank you.