China created 6.54 million new urban jobs in H1 – human resources ministry

BEIJING (Reuters) – China has completed 59% of its annual target of new urban jobs, with 6.54 million such jobs created during the January to June period, the ministry of human resources said on Thursday.

The nationwide survey-based jobless rate fell to 5.9% in May from 6.1% in April, still above the government’s 2022 target of below 5.5%. The jobless rate for June is due to be released later on Friday.

(Reporting by Ellen Zhang and Ryan Woo; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)