BEIJING - CHINA'S President Hu Jintao warned that the country faced a 'grim' jobs situation next year, state media reported on Monday, as Asia's second biggest economy continues to slow.

'Next year's employment situation, impacted by the global financial crisis, will be extremely grim,' Mr Hu said during a weekend visit to the north-eastern province of Liaoning, the official People's Daily reported.

'I hope that all employment organisations will do their best to help those looking for jobs... and make proper contributions to promote social harmony and stability,' he said, according to the newspaper.

Chinese officials unveiled a number of measures in November aimed at maintaining and creating jobs, particularly among the nation's 230 million rural workers, including providing financial aid to companies.

Authorities have become increasingly concerned over the impact of the economic crisis on social stability, following a number of riots in recent months linked to lay-offs.

Exporters, one of China's most important employer groups, have particularly suffered as markets overseas have dried up.

Exports fell by 2.2 per cent in November, the first decline in more than seven years, the government said last week.

The government expected to remain within its target of a 4.5 per cent unemployment rate by the end of the year, Mr Zhang Xiaojian, vice-minister of social security, said recently.

'But next year the registered (official) unemployment rate will certainly increase,' Mr Zhang said.

The national rate is also a vast underestimate because it does not include the millions of rural workers. -- AFP