The 18,000 employment agencies set up by China's labor departments helped 9.78 million unemployed people find jobs last year, according to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.

The employment agencies, which account for about 70 percent of the country's total, provided services for 19.03 million people in2002, according to the ministry.

The agencies in nearly 100 major Chinese cities have networked their computers to share employment information.

The ministry made public a list of job agencies that enjoy a good reputation for their services earlier this year, including those in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong province, Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi province, and Fuzhou, capital of east China's Fujian province.

The ministry also published the names of employment agencies it operates on the website (www.lm.gov.cn), and offered special services for specific groups of people, such as women.

(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2003)