'Capital still needs migrant workforce'

More than 56,000 job vacancies, including 37,000 for unskilled workers, are available to migrants in Beijing, it was revealed on Tuesday.

Although recent media reports suggest the capital plans to reduce the number of low-skilled laborers this year to control the population, officials at the Human Resources and Social Security Bureau insisted the group still make up a vital part of the workforce.

To fill the positions, authorities will hold 134 job fairs for skilled and unskilled migrants. "The service industry needs migrant workers as housekeepers, nurses and security guards. There's rigid demand," said Song, a director with Beijing Job Center who did not want to be identified.