As China’s largest provincial economy, Guangdong is home to over 70 million workers. Since the start of 2025, the province has fully implemented an employment-first policy, launching the “Million Talents to Guangdong” initiative to attract and retain skilled professionals. In the first five months of the year, Guangdong created 650,700 new urban jobs, an 8.8% increase year on year, underscoring the resilience of its job market.

Across the province, tailored employment services are helping residents secure opportunities and build careers. In Shenzhen’s Luohu District, local resident Xu Xinyi described how she struggled to land a job after graduation despite submitting over 50 applications. Her breakthrough came when Shuibei Employment Station reached out, offering a month of free training and recommending job openings. “With their support, I was hired by a jewelry company as an e-commerce operator. The pay is good, the growth potential is strong, and I’m learning valuable new skills,” she said.

Shuibei Employment Station, one of 80 such hubs now operating in Shenzhen, focuses on supporting unemployed college graduates through policy briefings, job referrals, and skills programs. Initiatives like artificial intelligence night classes and vocational guidance workshops have helped more than 160 young people find jobs or start businesses this year. Citywide, these employment stations have posted over 300,000 job listings and served more than 1 million people so far in 2025.

Elsewhere in the province, targeted training is empowering disadvantaged groups to reenter the workforce. Liu Shuijin, a former homemaker in Heyuan, trained as a childcare provider and now earns over 10,000 yuan a month at a domestic services company. The program, guided by local labor authorities, has provided free skills training to 1,300 people, including older workers and people with disabilities, with over 1,000 finding jobs.

Businesses, too, are benefiting from policies that ease hiring and reduce administrative burdens. In Shenzhen’s Pingshan District, micro and small enterprises can outsource human resources tasks like onboarding, attendance tracking, and social insurance contributions through a labor management service platform. This has already supported nearly 1,000 firms, cutting HR costs by over 60% and allowing companies to focus on innovation and growth.

Entrepreneurship is also thriving in rural areas. In Heyuan’s Sugar Nest Village Maker Community, young innovators attend policy salons and pitch competitions while enjoying rent-free workspaces and startup grants. Artist Xu Chenyu, who opened a creative studio there, said, “This community gives us a vibrant environment and professional support while attracting tourists to experience local culture.” The hub has already nurtured nearly 200 young entrepreneurs and drawn 19 registered businesses in areas like cultural heritage products and rural e-commerce.

According to Guangdong’s Department of Human Resources and Social Security, the province will continue to roll out measures including reduced unemployment insurance rates, one-time hiring subsidies, targeted loans, and training grants to support key groups such as graduates and migrant workers, aiming to expand job creation and deliver high-quality employment services.