China creates 7mln new jobs in H1 of 2012

China’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security says nearly 7 million new urban jobs have been created in the first half of 2012.

It says the figure represents about 77 percent of its target. It also says about 3 million laid-off workers were re-employed, or 59 percent of its target. Spokesman Yin Chengji also says China’s urban registered unemployment rate stood at 4.1 percent at the end of June. In addition, around 390 million of urban residents are now covered by the basic health insurance.