Beijing's registered urban unemployment rate declines

By Lan Tian (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-08-05 19:04

Beijing's unemployment rate in the first half of this year was 1.82 percent, down 0.07 percent compared to last year's, according to government figures.

The drop has been mostly attributed to government policies designed to combat unemployment during the global financial crisis.

"The measures have began to bear fruit as we can see a sign of stabilization in the job market," Song Fengjing, deputy director of Beijing human resources and social security bureau, told a press conference Wednesday.

In order to provide more opportunities for Beijing's 210,000 college graduates, the government created many new jobs, including 1,800 village official positions, 2,600 community service positions, 3,000 positions in scientific research institutes, 3,000 positions in primary and middle schools. It also increased enrolment in postgraduate education by 10,000 places.

Authorities have also helped provide incentives and support designed to encourage companies not to lay off workers, including social insurance subsidies and job training allowances. In the first six months of this year, more than 1,800 enterprises received a total of 696 million yuan ($102 million) of government subsidies that have benefited over 100,000 workers.