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A government forecast indicates China's unemployment rate is likely to climb further this year. But the country is working to maintain the rate within 4.5 percent this year, says Sunday's Yangcheng (Guangzhou) Evening News.
The end of 2002 saw China's registered unemployment rate reach four percent.
The rate was the highest in three straight years, compared with 3.1 percent in 2000 and 3.6 percent in 2001.
The peak unemployment rate was attributed to the higher demand for jobs by laborers in both urban and rural areas and by laid-off workers.
Facts show that a one percentage point increase in the unemployment rate represents the loss of work for an estimated one million residents.
As a result, both the central and local governments are taking every possible measure to create more job opportunities which they consider a crucial factor in maintaining social stability.
(Xinhua News Agency February 13, 2003)
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