BEIJING (REUTERS) - China's employment situation in the second quarter was generally stable, the labour ministry said in a statement on Thursday, adding that it was making a priority of creating job opportunities for graduates.

It added that the unemployment rate in the quarter was 4.1 percent, the same as in the first quarter.

It will hold a media briefing on its work report for the second quarter later on Thursday.

China added 7.25 million jobs in the first half of this year, slightly higher than the number created in the same period a year earlier, the ministry said last week.

However, Wednesday's flash HSBC/Markit Purchasing Managers'Index survey showed China's job market weakened further in July as the employment sub-index slid to the lowest level in more than four years.