The registered unemployment rate in China's urban areas was 4.3 percent at the end of June, said Yin Chengji, spokesman of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, Friday.

The figure was unchanged compared from the end of March, but rose from 4.2 percent at the end of 2008.

As of June 30, the number of urban residents registered as jobless was 9.06 million, down 90,000 from the end of the first quarter, Yin said.

A total of 5.69 million jobs were created during the first six months this year, 63 percent of the government's annual target, he said.

About 4.15 million college graduates, 68 percent of the total, had found jobs so far this month, said Yin. The rate was equal to the same period last year.

(Xinhua News Agency July 24, 2009)