Recruiting in China

BEIJING (XFN-ASIA) - China's urban registered unemployment rate was 4.0 pct at the end of June, unchanged from the end of March, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said.

In a statement published on its website, the ministry said that the number of registered unemployed at the end of June stood at 8.35 mln, up from 8.25 mln at end-March.

The ministry said that 6.4 mln new jobs were created in cities in the first half of 2008, accounting for 64 pct of the full year target, while 2.82 mln laid-off workers found new jobs in the same period, accounting for 56 pct of the year target.

China set a 2008 urban unemployment target of 4.5 pct, with urban job creation projected at 10 mln.

At the end of June, there were about 210.29 mln and 249.07 mln people covered by pension and medical care respectively, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, the unemployment, work injury and paternity insurance fund had 120.1 mln, 130.25 mln and 84.52 mln people respectively covered at the end of June, it added.