GUANGZHOU’S unemployment rate fell to 3.73 percent for the first half of this year, with 57,000 laid-off workers re-employed, an official from the city’s job creation taskforce said Wednesday.

　　The city’s unemployment rate went down by 0.03 of a percentage point compared with the figure at the end of last year, while the re-employment rate went up by 0.62 of a percentage point compared to the first half of last year.

　　The improvement is a result of the city’s continuous robust development, propelled by the relevant measures of the city government.

　　With State companies’ diminishing ability to hire laid-off workers, the city government explored neighborhood services as a new labor market. By the end of June, the number of jobs in neighborhood services had been expanded to 20 from 10 last year, with about 3,000 people re-employed.

　　The new jobs include positions as security guards, cleaners, gardeners, housekeepers and family nurses. Even jobs that Guangzhou people previously disdained to do, such as parking lot attendant, clothes mending, home utensil repairing and waste recovery, have attracted many people.

　　The city government has set up a special fund for the re-employment scheme. Over 16 million yuan (US$1.92m) was used during the first six months. Since 1996, the city has put in about 60 million yuan every year to help re-employ people. In addition, 500,000 to 4 million yuan has been spent each year by governments at district and county levels.

　　The money has been used to train unemployed people and introduce them to employers. It is also used to reward employers who hire men aged over 35 and women aged over 30. If a jobless person starts a business, he or she can receive 1,500 yuan in aid.(Wu Yan)