Unemployment rate lower than expected
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-12-18 00:51

China's registered urban unemployment rate is 4.3 percent this year, 0.4 percentage points lower than the estimation made at the beginning of the year, said the Ministry of Labor and Social security here Friday.

Addressing a working conference, Zheng Silin, minister of Labor and Social Security, attributed the success in lowering the unemployment rate to the employment services and control on unemployment the Chinese government enhanced this year.

According to statistics released by the ministry, China had a total of 8.21 million jobless people, at an registered unemployment rate of 4.2 percent, in its urban areas by the end of September, 0.1 percentage point lower than that of last year.

Meanwhile, a total of 9.1 million jobs were newly increased while 4.6 million laid-off workers had been re-employed from January to November this year.

"We will try to create more jobs," said the minister.

He also said the Chinese government will make great efforts next year to lock the urban unemployment rate at 4.6 percent by adding 9 million jobs and offering jobs for 5 million laid-off workers.

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