China's job market maintains stable

BEIJING - China's job market remained stable in the first three quarters of this year as the urban unemployment rate continued to drop, with emerging industries as the biggest employer, official data showed.

Some 11.07 million new jobs were created from January to September, 100,000 more than the same period a year ago, Lu Aihong, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, said Wednesday at a press briefing.

"We fulfilled the full-year target a quarter earlier," Lu said, adding that employment is stable for college graduates and the rural migrant labor force.

The registered unemployment rate in urban areas came to 3.82 percent at the end of September, edging down from 3.83 percent three months ago.

The spokesperson attributed the robust job creation to booming new economic drivers, which contributed to two-thirds of the new jobs. "More than 5 million new businesses were registered in the first three quarters, or over 18,000 each day... providing major support for stable employment."

Lu acknowledged that pressures on the job market linger due to increasing uncertainties at home and abroad but stressed the stability will continue thanks to a steady economy and vigorous innovation and entrepreneurship.