Some 5.1 million laid-off workers found jobs again in 2005,
among which 1.1 million are aged between 40 and 50, the latest
figures released by China's National Development and Reform
Commission (NDRC) showed.
China's laid-off workers from state-owned enterprises were about
610,000 by the end of 2005, the number being reduced by 920,000
compared with the figure for the 2004 year-end, the NDRC statistics
showed.
The country's fast growing economy has helped to create more
jobs in 2005. About 9.7 million people were employed in town last
year, while the employment goal set for the year was about 9
million.
The NDRC also found a slower growth of unemployment in reviewing
last year's employment conditions. By the end of 2005, China's
local governments had registered 8.39 million unemployed workers in
town, 110,000 more than the previous year but growing at a lower
rate. The unemployment rate in town was 4.2 percent in 2005, the
same as the previous year.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture, 108
million rural residents went into town to seek jobs in 2005, 5.64
million more than in 2004, representing the fastest pace in recent
five years.
The statistics also showed that among the 108 million rural
workers, 57.8 percent have a stable job, up 2.9 percentage point
from 2004, at a monthly pay of 852 yuan (US$105.19), up 6.1 percent
over the previous year.
(Xinhua News Agency February 15, 2006)