Guideline to boost employment system issued

China is stepping up efforts to optimize the employment system to enable more citizens to access equal, efficient and professional services to land jobs.

Five central departments including the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Civil Affairs have jointly released a guideline with 20 measures to consolidate an inclusive and fully functional job services mechanism.

The guideline says local authorities can organize small-sized and specialized on-site job fairs. They can spot people with difficulty landing jobs in time and offer them assistance.

Authorities at the city and county levels have been urged to improve their services abilities, while at the subdistrict or township level, they have been asked to step up efforts to let residents get employment services within 15 minutes.

The guideline also highlights the use of information technology and artificial intelligence to optimize employment services. It urges governments at all levels to better the management of employment information databases and use AI to pinpoint people in need of government assistance. The government can also use AI analytical tools.

In a recent interview to China Central Television, one of the country's major news outlets, Huang Junmei, an official from the human resources and social security ministry, said that precise and efficient employment services can help reduce both hiring and job-hunting costs.

She said people today require more comprehensive employment services, professional guidance and specific services on jobs or entrepreneurship.