In 2005, China's economy witnessed steady and relatively rapid development. Governments at all levels continued to implement active employment policies, strengthened macro control and structural adjustment on employment and promoted a steady increase in job opportunities. The employment scale in urban and rural areas was furthered expanded. The statistical communiqué shows that by the end of 2005, the total number of employed was 758.25 million, increasing by 6.25 million over the end of 2004. Among these, the number of urban employed was 273.31 million, an increase of 9.7 million and a net increase of 8.55 million. The urban registered unemployment rate at the end of 2005 was 4.2 percent, almost the same as for the previous year.
In November 2005, the State Council issued the Notice on Further Strengthening Employment and Reemployment Work, setting the future targets for employment and reemployment work. From 2006 to 2010, the state will continue to promote employment and reemployment, strive to create new job opportunities for 45 million people and contain the urban registered unemployment rate to within 5 percent.