Beijing Labour and Social Security Bureau says the number of people registered as out of work will increase to 290,000 this year, about 20,000 more than expected at the beginning of the year.

While economic progress has led to growth in employment, economic policy adjustments have slowed job creation.

The municipal government plans to adopt four measures to increase or at least maintain the current employment rate.

The measures focus largely on promoting increased hiring by employers, and retraining and reemployment amongst laid-off workers.

(CRI October 10, 2004)