Beijing announces jobs initiative amid AI impact

In China's latest effort to adapt its workforce to rapid technological changes, a senior official on Saturday announced an initiative to promote employment in response to artificial intelligence development. Li Zhong, vice minister of human resources and social security, said China would actively address the impact of AI and other emerging technologies on employment, promoting the responsible development of technology and bolstering quality employment. Adapting to AI-driven changes has become an increasingly prominent part of China's employment policy. Several official documents issued this year have outlined measures to harness technological advances while supporting employment. The 2026 government work report vowed to take more effective measures to facilitate employment and entrepreneurship through better adaptation to the development of AI technologies. A five-year plan on implementing the employment-first strategy also identified promoting employment amid AI advances as a key task, calling for creating jobs through AI applications and tapping the potential in traditional sectors. AI is already reshaping China's economy and transforming its labour market, with demand growing for workers equipped with specialised technical skills. According to Maimai, a networking and recruitment platform, the number of new AI-related job postings in the new economy on the platform rose about 789 percent, year on year, from...