The society in China remained stable despite a gloomy employment situation amid the global financial crisis, said Premier Wen Jiabao Friday.

Wen made the remarks when answering a question on China's employment situation and social stability at a press conference, which was held shortly after the annual legislative session concluded.

"To solve the problem of unemployment, the most important job is to improve support for small and medium-sized enterprises, which hire 90 percent of the labor force," the Premier said.

He admitted China is facing a very severe employment situation.

However, he told reporters "the society has been stable in the later half of last year and the first two months this year, although more people were not employed and many farmer workers returned home."

(Xinhua News Agency March 13, 2009)