China's quarterly job report delivered a positive message Tuesday as 3.34 million new jobs were created in the first quarter and the unemployment rate fell to 3.97 percent.

 

2017年第一季度，中国新增334万个工作岗位，失业率下降至3.97%。

 

The number of new jobs was 160,000 higher than that in the same period last year, and the unemployment rate was down 0.07 percentage points from a year earlier and 0.05 percentage points lower compared with the previous quarter, official data showed.

 

"China's job market posted a strong start this year and remained stable in the first quarter," said Lu Aihong, spokesperson of the Ministry¹ of Human Resources and Social Security, at a press conference.

 

Economists² said the lower jobless rate suggested a healthier picture of Chinese economy.

 

From January to March, job vacancies³ rose 7.8 percent year on year while applicants⁴ increased 2.1 percent, according to data with the ministry.

 

"The need for workers is particularly pressing in the manufacturing sector," said Zhang Yizhen, vice⁵ minister of human resources and social security.

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