Urban unemployment slows in 1st quarter
一季度城镇失业率增长速度放缓

Growth in China's urban unemployment rate slowed for the first time since the global financial crisis during this year's first quarter. That was the word from a news conference held Friday by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said Friday that China's urban unemployment rate came in at 4.05 percent at the end of March.

"From January to March, China's employed rural population grew by 3.24 million, that's 200,000 less than the same period last year. By the end of March, China's registered urban unemployment rate stood at 4.05 percent, lower than the 4.09 percent logged for the whole of 2014 and the 4.08 percent registered in the first quarter of last year," said Li Zhong, spokesman.

China has a population of over 1.3 billion and a workforce of 900 million. The country makes the creation of jobs its top priority. Li said more measures to help create jobs should be implemented.

"An executive meeting of the State Council was held on April 21st and a statement has been released, emphasizing that due to increasing pressure on employment this year, the government must introduce more proactive policies. New policies must be taken to encourage people to start their own business and to make innovations. We will work to help people who have lost their jobs due to structural adjustments or measures to address overcapacity to find new employment, and coordinate efforts to ensure employment can be found for people who move from rural to urban areas to find work, vulnerable urban residents who have difficulty finding jobs, and decommissioned military personnel," he said.

There'll be seven and a half million college graduates this year, a record high number adding to employment pressures. The economic slowdown has made job creation more complex and more difficult. But Li said China is making greater effort to boost entrepreneurship and innovation and create more jobs.