Since 1999, more than 2,000 intermediary employment agencies have been closed by local labor and social security authorities across the country because of illegal practices that have impaired job-seekers interests.

Another 7,000 have been ordered to make changes, according to Xin Changxing, director of the training and employment department of the ministry.

In addition to eliminating illegal practices, the ministry has also been gradually strengthening relevant laws and regulations in order to standardize labor services.

The ministry has also required local labor and social security authorities to analyze supply and demand in the labor market and to publicize their findings every quarter.

The system requiring the release of such information has been implemented in 100 major cities since it was introduced by the ministry in 1999.

According to the ministry, the demand for labor in the second quarter of 2001 rose sharply compared with that in the first quarter.

This summer, a total of 1.53 million laborers were needed in 62 major cities, while in spring only 856,000 were needed.

This was mainly caused by seasonal changes. Normally, the demand for labor varies greatly from season to season.

Statistics also indicate that the tertiary, or service, sector offers the greatest number of job openings.

Of the 1.53 million labourers that were needed, up to 73 per cent were for the service sector, 25 percent for secondary industry - the industrial sector, and only 2 per cent were for primary industry - the agricultural sector.

Private and joint-stock enterprises needed most labourers. The first accounted for 28.9 percent of the total demand, and joint-stock enterprises, 25.8 percent.

Statistics also indicate that 47 percent of the job-seekers were unemployed people, 11 percent already had jobs, 9 per cent were laid-off workers, and 1 percent were retired workers.

(China Daily 08/24/2001)