Take multiple measures to help groups with employment difficulties
On September 26, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China emphasized the need to “strengthen support for employment-challenged groups, such as older individuals, people with disabilities, and those who have been unemployed for a long time.”
Older individuals, people with disabilities, and those who have been unemployed for an extended period face several challenges, including limited job skills, insufficient employment channels, and a lack of understanding of market demands. To overcome these obstacles, various regions have begun to provide more detailed guidance services, develop suitable job opportunities, share job information, and organize skills training to create conditions that facilitate employment for these struggling groups.
Support for Older Adults: Developing Appropriate Job Opportunities and Targeted Skills Training
“In pediatric acupressure, specific points are suitable for children under six years old; the younger they are, the better the effect…” At the DeLong Vocational Training School in Fucheng County, Hengshui City, a “Public Class on Infant Health Care” is underway. Teacher Zhang Chunling elaborates on traditional Chinese pediatric acupressure as over 100 women attentively take notes.
“These skills can help us address real issues we encounter in our work and support the healthy development of infants,” says Zhang Junran, a 50-year-old woman from Youchangxiang Village, Fucheng Town, who now works as a postpartum caregiver in downtown Hengshui, earning a monthly salary of 12,000 yuan. To continuously enhance her skills, she frequently returns to the classroom for further education.
“In recent years, Fucheng County has focused on the employment challenges faced by older populations, unemployed individuals, and left-behind women. Utilizing the advantages of DeLong Vocational Training School, we’ve leveraged domestic service to bolster rural revitalization and improve livelihoods, creating the ‘Fucheng Sister’ labor brand,” notes Jiang Geng, Deputy Director of the Fucheng County Human Resources and Social Security Bureau. So far, 65,100 individuals have been trained as “Fucheng Sisters,” with 41,200 individuals placed in jobs in cities like Beijing and Tianjin.
“Vocational training has equipped me with knowledge and skills, leading to stable employment,” shares Li Xinglan, who previously struggled to find work due to her age and lack of skills. Several years ago, after completing elder care training at DeLong, she obtained her caregiver certification and began working at an elder care institution in Beijing. “This is my fourth year in the job; providing daily care for the elderly feels very meaningful,” she says, earning over 7,000 yuan per month.
Older individuals are indeed among the hardest hit in terms of employment challenges. “As people age, decreasing work ability and insufficient skills further complicate their job prospects,” explains Liu Yong, Head of the Employment Promotion Section at Hengshui City’s Human Resources and Social Security Bureau. Hengshui is actively conducting training in domestic service, security, and pastry-making to enhance vocational training’s relevance and practicality.
In September, the Hebei Provincial Human Resources and Social Security Department issued nine measures to enhance support for the silver economy. Liu Yong adds, “Moving forward, we will continue to improve job-seeking capabilities for older workers while guiding employers to create ‘age-friendly’ positions. We aim to broaden employment avenues and provide greater support, helping more older workers realize their value and societal contribution.”
Support for Individuals with Disabilities: Improving Policy Frameworks and Guiding Companies to Provide Employment
Upon entering the Runlu Workshop in the Luyang District of Hefei City, one is greeted by Wang Qijun’s enthusiastic voice: “Hello!” Although his speech is somewhat unclear due to a disability, he remains incredibly welcoming: “For deliveries, please go straight ahead and turn left; I can show you the way.”
Wang Qijun is one of the disabled workers here. “When he first joined us in 2021, he was quite shy and rarely spoke. After undergoing skills training and social integration guidance at our workshop, he’s now able to communicate, so we placed him in a reception role at the entrance,” explains Liu Ruiru, the workshop’s director.
The Runlu Workshop is an auxiliary employment facility for people with disabilities. “In 2021, we collaborated with a professional training company to establish this workshop. Currently, we have 39 disabled employees and 8 training managers. We not only provide free space but also ensure that wages and operating costs for disabled workers are covered by the government,” says Zhang Yi, Director of the Employment Office at the Luyang District Disabled Persons Federation.
“At the workshop, individuals with disabilities can learn simple handicrafts. We also organize volunteer activities and visits, and collaborate with university volunteer teams to help them better integrate into society,” Liu Ruiru shares.
In September 2022, the Anhui Provincial Government released a three-year action plan to promote employment among individuals with disabilities, proposing that where feasible, social work positions be created within auxiliary employment facilities providing suitable subsidies. By June 30, Anhui had over 200 auxiliary employment agencies that helped more than 4,600 people with disabilities find jobs.
At 8 a.m., Cheng Zhifei arrives punctually at the production workshop, where he works at Anhui Jinqiao Packaging and Printing Co., primarily responsible for operating printing machines. Cheng has a hearing impairment but has worked at the company since 2005 and is a dedicated and efficient employee, according to the company’s chairman, Wang Bin. Currently, the company employs 26 disabled individuals, positioning itself as an employer specializing in the inclusion of disabled workers.
The support for companies hiring disabled workers is backed by substantial policies. “Employers and individual business owners who hire at least ten disabled individuals, comprising no less than 25% of their workforce, and meet other criteria, are eligible for immediate VAT refunds,” says Chen Ye, Deputy Director of the Labor Employment Service Center in Xuancheng City. For instance, Anhui Jinqiao Packaging and Printing Co. benefits from approximately 1.5 million yuan in VAT refunds each year. Currently, there are 31 companies in Ningguo City that focus on employing people with disabilities, directly providing jobs to 622 individuals, contributing over 40 million yuan in tax incentives annually.
“We also encourage government agencies, public institutions, and state-owned enterprises to take the lead in hiring individuals with disabilities. This includes establishing tailored employment service plans for disabled university graduates and providing vocational skills or entrepreneurial training, ensuring that individuals with disabilities can shine in the workplace,” says Liu Qun, Director of the Fund Education and Employment Department of the Anhui Disabled Persons Federation. From January to June, Anhui added 4,096 urban jobs and 10,697 rural jobs for individuals with disabilities and completed vocational training for 10,476 individuals with disabilities.
Support for the Long-Term Unemployed: Offering Employment Guidance and Enhancing Work Capabilities
At 8 a.m., 39-year-old Li Lu enters the busiest part of her day. Prior to this, she had risen early to prepare breakfast for her family and drop her two children off at nearby schools before heading to the home of an elderly couple in her neighborhood for housekeeping services—cleaning floors, wiping tables, washing clothes, and preparing lunch.
Li Lu is a resident of the Qingmingqiao Community in Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, and is considered a “new Wuxi person.” Ten years ago, she relocated to Wuxi with her husband, taking a sales position at a real estate company. However, five years ago, due to family and career considerations, she left that job and has since struggled to find suitable employment.
Li Lu faces two primary challenges in her job search: she needs to care for her two children, making it difficult to commute long distances or take on fixed-hour jobs, and her lack of specialized skills means she faces stiff competition in the labor market, with many job listings seeking candidates under 35 years old, limiting her opportunities.
In early September, 2023, during a community visit, Yao Lin, the community party secretary, learned about Li Lu’s job-seeking difficulties and guided her to the “Chun Can · Time” employment service station in her community. Yao Lin explained that this initiative was launched last August as part of a project to foster entrepreneurship and employment.
Considering Li Lu’s desire for a balance between family care and flexible employment, the service station invited instructors from a home service company to provide two weeks of training for her and other re-employed individuals. The training included skills in cleaning, organization, nutrition, and elder psychology. Following the training, Li Lu signed a contract and began her new job.
Yao Lin adds that among those trained, several are long-term unemployed residents from her community and nearby areas, facing similar challenges: they must care for elderly family members or children while lacking necessary skills and grappling with age-related job market tensions. With a job conveniently located within her neighborhood and community support, Li Lu feels her labor rights are well-protected.
“I typically finish my home service job by noon, leaving my afternoons free. I earn over 3,000 yuan per month, allowing me to contribute to my family financially while taking care of them,” Li Lu shares.
Li Bo, Deputy Director of the Employment Service Division of the Wuxi Labor Employment Management Center, notes that the Wuxi employment department offers focused assistance to individuals unemployed for over a year, providing one-on-one services including free job guidance, job referrals, training recommendations, and psychological counseling. Additionally, they actively engage various community resources to strengthen the local public employment service platform, encouraging tailored support for key demographic groups. To date, the city has established 159 community (village) “doorstep” employment service stations, facilitating regular and diverse employment services. So far in 2023, they have successfully helped 124 long-term unemployed individuals secure jobs.
