Securing employment is the most direct and effective way to raise people out of poverty.

In a bid to support the export of labor services, a vital channel for creating jobs, local governments should cooperate with enterprises to provide policy promotion, information exchange and skills training in poverty-stricken areas. Besides offering an organized way to expand labor service export, the governments should also consider offering transportation subsidies for poor people who work in other provinces.

Local governments also need to combine employment and poverty alleviation with industrial development by supporting enterprises that contribute to poverty alleviation and that develop relevant industries. In addition, the construction of industrial parks with preferential policies throughout the country can create an encouraging environment for migrant workers returning to their hometowns to start businesses.

Providing better job training is also a significant contributor to poverty alleviation, helping upskill workers and improve the knowledge of entrepreneurs.

This is an edited excerpt of an article originally published in People's Daily on September 1

(Print Edition Title: Targeting Poor Populations)