On 31 October, the Communist Party journal Qiushi published an article by Xi Jinping titled Facilitating High-Quality and Full Employment (促进高质量充分就业), based on a speech Xi delivered at a Politburo Study Session in May. In this speech, Xi highlights the Party’s commitment to fostering high-quality, full employment as a cornerstone of public welfare, economic resilience, and national stability.

Addressing the critical challenges of today—such as demographic shifts, digital transformation, and structural workforce imbalances—Xi Jinping presents what he describes as a “people-centred" approach to employment, with five key areas guiding current policies:

1. Employment as a Priority: High-quality employment is central to economic and social development. Policies emphasise upgrading traditional and emerging industries to generate quality jobs and create an employment-friendly environment.
2. Addressing Structural Employment Gaps: Current policies work to align education and vocational training with labour market needs, prioritising vocational education and fostering a flexible labour market. The objective is to close skill gaps and cultivate a capable, modern workforce to meet industry demands.
3. Targeted Support for Key Groups: Policies prioritise expanding job opportunities for youth, rural workers, and marginalised groups. This includes creating career pathways for young people, supporting employment in both urban and rural areas, and sustaining stable employment to prevent poverty recurrence.
4. Reforming Employment Systems: Efforts are underway to balance the roles of the market and government in improving job quality, expanding employment capacity, and ensuring fair access. Expanding public employment services and developing an inclusive human resource market are central to this.
5. Strengthening Labour Rights: A core focus is protecting workers’ rights, especially for those in flexible and emerging job roles. Policies reinforce social security, equitable treatment, and strong regulations regarding wages, safety, and working conditions.

The full translation of the article follows below.

Facilitating High-Quality and Full Employment

Xi Jinping

Today, we convened the 14th collective study session of the 20th Central Political Bureau, focused on facilitating high-quality and full employment in alignment with the goals of the Party’s 20th National Congress. We will reflect on achievements in employment during the new era, analyse the current employment landscape, identify pressing challenges, and develop strategies to facilitate high-quality and full employment.