China turns to AI to create new jobs and upgrade traditional roles

Labour market closely watched as economy slows and growth targets are recalibrated

- Michelle Ng China Correspondent

keep employment stable over the next five years and is studying how artificial intelligence can be harnessed to create new jobs and upgrade traditional roles, a top Chinese official said on March 7, even as uncertainties in the labour market grow.

Acknowledging that the rapid development of Al is having a profound impact on employment and has drawn widespread attention, Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Wang Xiaoping assured the public that stabilising employment is a key priority for Beijing.

“Employment is a family matter and even more so a national matter,” said Ms Wang.

“We are studying related policies to actively harness Al in creating new jobs and empowering traditional jobs, promoting inclusive development in which technological progress and improvements in people’s livelihoods advance in tandem,” she said.

Adding that China’s long-term economic fundamentals remain intact, Ms Wang said: “We have the confidence and the capability to maintain overall employment stability and continue improving the situation”.

The minister was speaking at a press conference held on the sidelines of the Two Sessions, or Liang-hui, China’s annual parliamentary meetings in Beijing, where thousands of delegates have gathered to discuss national policies.

She was joined by four other heads of Chinese ministries and agencies who answered questions from domestic and international reporters for nearly 21/2 hours on the government's plan to improve citizens’ livelihoods in 2026.

Notably absent from the press conference was Housing Minister Ni Hong, who was part of the panel in 2024 and 2025 as the authorities sought to reassure the public over the country’s property downturn and falling home prices.

His absence in 2026 suggests a shift in emphasis towards employment, healthcare and social services as Beijing focuses on policies aimed at improving livelihoods.