China's unemployment situation remained stable in the first half
of this year with the urban unemployment rate reported at 4.2
percent.
China's Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MOLSS) announced
in Beijing on Monday that there were 8.33 million urban unemployed
at the end of June, a decrease of 60,000 from the previous six
month period.
Earlier statistics from the Ministry of Labor and Social
Security show the registered urban unemployed numbered 8.39 million
at the end of last year, including 1.53 million laid-off
workers.
China's unemployment statistics only focus on urban areas. An
official with the MOLSS said that China's government
administrations provided more job opportunities and help with
finding jobs for the unemployed. Some local governments developed
favorable policies and launched specific programs for the
unemployed and laid-off workers. Such efforts have paid off, the
official said.
In the first half of this year the urban workforce increased by
6.08 million, with 2.36 million laid-off workers and registered
unemployed people finding jobs.
"We still face serious challenges if we want to realize the new
goals for the next five years," the official said.
On July 25, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in a regular meeting of the State
Council proposed that China should keep its urban unemployment rate
at five percent in the coming five years. That will require new
jobs for 45 million urban people and 45 million migrant workers
over the next five years. Earlier this month, the All-China
Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) vowed to help one million
laid-off and unemployed workers find jobs by the end of next
year.
"In the next three to five years China's working population will
peak, putting increased pressures on society," Sun Chunlan, vice
president of the ACFTU told Xinhua, citing the growing number of
migrant workers and college graduates.
Sun revealed that trade unions would assist with training or
small bank loans to help workers start their own businesses, which
could boost job opportunities for others.
Many unemployed and laid-off workers lead hard lives as they
lack not only jobs but education, health care and housing, Sun
said.
Premier Wen has vowed to increase the government's investment in
social security.
Job creation has been a long-standing concern of the government
since the country adopted a market economy in the late 1970s and
undertook reforms in state-run enterprises, which resulted in many
layoffs.
This year the government has allocated 185.98 billion yuan
(US$23 billion) to help the unemployed and for social security, an
increase of 23.6 billion yuan (US$2.95 billion) over last year.
(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2006)