The National and Development Reform Commission (NDRC) said on Sunday (Feb 11) that it plans to boost its job creation efforts and promote entrepreneurship this year, in response to the recent pressure to find work for millions of unemployed people and new college graduates in the country.

The spokeswoman for the top state planner, Meng Wei said that currently China needs to create for some 9.7 million people registered as unemployed and 8.2 million new college graduates. The numbers can grow bigger, as the country needs to help workers affected by industrial capacity cuts as well.

Recent data suggested that China’s urban-registered unemployment rate has fallen to 3.9 last year. This figure had remained generally stable, despite slowing economic growth and the government’s move to forge ahead with plans to cut back industrial capacity.

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However, many analysts said that the official data is an unreliable indicator of employment conditions as it only covers employment in urban areas and does not take into account the millions of migrant workers who form the bedrock of China’s labor force.

Speaking in front of media in a news conference on Sunday, Meng said that the government will implement an employment-first strategy and more proactive employment policies while vigorously promoting employment and entrepreneurship. She also added that protecting consisting jobs was fundamental to China’s stable growth policy, Reuters reports.

In its effort to support job creation, the authorities are relying on “new growth engines” such as technology and services.

Meng said that China will create a policy environment that supports the digital economy and will promote the big data, artificial intelligence and industrial internet sectors. Furthermore, she also noted that the NDRC will also work to improve policies that will support the growth of private firms, by learning from the examples of successful policies from around the country.

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