Historical Changes and Evolutionary Logic of the Employment Placement System for Veterans in China

The employment placement system for veterans serves as the institutional foundation for ensuring adequate employment for retired military personnel. This work is crucial to national defense security and social stability, carrying significant importance for the government and society as a whole. An analysis based on the framework of historical institutionalism reveals that the veteran employment placement system has undergone four phases: inception, exploration, establishment, and perfection. Key milestones include the enactment of the 1958 “Defense Service Law of the People’s Republic of China,” the convening of the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and the establishment of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs. The dynamics driving changes in the system include policy adjustments, the improvement of laws and regulations, the development of a market economy, the requirements for modernizing national defense and the military, and shifts in social demands and the conditions of veterans themselves. The logic of military restructuring and economic transition has created path dependency in institutional formation. Future improvements should focus on enhancing legal design, enforcing rights protection, and perfecting skill training systems to better safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of veterans.