Chinese Vice Premier Huang Ju on Thursday called for more efforts to improve employment as the issue is expected to become critical in the coming two years.

"According to forecasts, the labor age population will reach a high level in the coming two years. In addition, there'll be more surplus rural laborers moving to cities to find jobs," Huang said at a meeting on employment held in Changsha, Hunan Province.

Huang, who is a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the employment situation is further complicated by rising international oil prices and escalating trade protectionism, which will impact China's economic growth.

According to Huang, thanks to vigorous efforts from various sectors, the employment situation at present is generally stable.

Statistics show an additional 7.38 million people found jobs in the first eight months of the year, fulfilling 82 percent of the annual target, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 10, 2005)