The registered urban unemployment rate at the end of 2005 is expected to be somewhat higher than last year, which amounted to 4.2 percent, says a report on China's development plan.

The report on the implementation of the 2004 plan for national economic and social development and on the 2005 draft plan for national economic and social development, submitted for approval to the ongoing session of the National People's Congress, set a target of "creating 9 million more jobs for urban residents and confining the registered urban unemployment rate to 4.6 percent" for 2005.

This year, 11 million urban residents, including those enteringthe workplace for the first time, ex-servicemen and college graduates, need to find employment. There are now 13 million unemployed and laid-off urban workers, and large numbers of surplus rural laborers need to find jobs in urban areas, accordingto the report.

"Employment pressure is therefore still intense," it says.

According to the report, estimates based on the relationship between economic growth and job creation show that by adhering to a vigorous employment policy, the country should be able to create9 million more jobs this year.

"Given that we will basically incorporate subsistence allowances for workers laid off from state-owned enterprises into the unemployment insurance system this year, the registered urban unemployment rate at the end of 2005 is expected to be somewhat higher than last year," the report says.

Xinhua