China created 11.02 million new jobs in urban areas in 2009, topping the government goal of 9 million, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said Friday.

This figure was about 22.4 percent higher than the government's whole year target set in March last year, Yin Chengji, spokesman of the ministry told a press conference.

Around 5.14 million laid-off workers were re-employed last year, exceeding the preset goal of 5 million.

Urban unemployment rate stood at 4.3 percent, with 9.21 million people being registered to be unemployed.

(Xinhua News Agency January 22, 2010)