Economic slowdown bites China's employment: official (2)

China's urban registered unemployment rate stood at 4.1 percent at the end of September, unchanged from the second quarter of 2012, according to official figures. It was lower than the officially set ceiling of 4.6 percent this year.

The country created 10.24 million new jobs in urban areas in the first nine months, exceeding the annual target of 9 million for this year.

Yang said the government will boost labor-intensive industries as well as strategic emerging industries to bring job growth along with economic development.

He said the government will encourage college students to work in the central-western regions or start their own businesses, facilitate the development of small- and medium-sized enterprises and offer better training for rural workers.

Recommended Features: A Decade of Fastest Development Eastern Boom Lightens Western Gloom A Journey to Cultural Renaissance Gold collection issued to mark 'Year of Snake' China: A Fast-growing Force in IPR 13th Int'l Automobile Industry Exhibition China Int'l Industry Fair opens in Shanghai Caofeidian coal wharf put into use Canton Fair wraps up on Sunday