Ningxia doubles down on employment effort

Local government to launch schemes to build on record successes of last year

The Ningxia Hui autonomous region has strengthened its support for employment by creating 79,500 new urban jobs and transferring 823,000 rural workers out of farming last year, according to the region's human resources and social security department.

"Last year, we maintained the overall stability of employment, " said Xiao Shengqin, deputy director of the department.

The employment rate for college graduates stood at 97.3 percent, and 11,600 people facing difficulties got jobs, exceeding the previous target and setting a new regional record, he said.

According to Xiao, Ningxia provided strong support to key groups, including zero-employment households in urban areas, achieving what the regional government calls "dynamic zero elimination". This means that whenever they encounter a family without a breadwinner, authorities help at least one member find a job.

With the help of the employment and entrepreneurship center in Jinfeng district of Yinchuan, the regional capital, Zhang Jing got a job at the Helanshan Zhonglu subdistrict office near her home.

The 38-year-old, who worked at an educational institution, lost her job in 2021. Soon after, her husband quit his job working in another city to return to the family.

When she registered with the local unemployment office and the center and confirmed that no one in the family was working, they found her a job.

Now, Zhang earns 1,950 yuan ($287) a month, the minimum wage in Ningxia.

"It's good that I've got a new job. No matter how much it pays, it at least eases some of the burdens on my family," she said.