BEIJING: Just two hours after filling out her application forms on a local public services app, new graduate Ma Xin secured a free, well-furnished apartment in a local “youth station” in the bustling city of Nanjing.
The popular youth stations serve as a welcoming first stop for many young job-seekers like Ma who have ventured away from home.
Ma can reside in the apartment, which is equipped with a full range of appliances and products, free of charge for up to 14 days as she transitions from campus life to the workplace.
The program also offers shuttle services and study rooms for its residents, and employs expert career coaches who provide personalized guidance both online and on-site. Regular job fairs also connect residents with employment opportunities right at their doorstep.
Jiangsu Province launched youth stations in 2021 as a public welfare initiative, offering free transitional housing for young job-seekers. By this August, there were 176 youth stations across the province, benefiting over 41,000 young people.
These youth stations are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to China’s extensive efforts to bolster employment. In recent years, the country has organized numerous specialized job fairs for key sectors in cutting-edge fields and specific regions.
This year alone, the central government allocated a budget of 66.7 billion yuan (about 9.51 billion U.S. dollars) for employment subsidies, and central authorities released 11 policy measures aimed at stabilizing employment.
As a result, the country of over 1.4 billion people has achieved relatively full employment. In 2023, there were 740.41 million people in employment nationwide. From 2013 to 2023, over 140 million new urban jobs were created, and the surveyed urban unemployment rate remained stable. –Agencies
