Beijing — China created more jobs in 2014, with the number of employed in urban areas increasing by 13.22 million, a Chinese official said on Jan 20.

Head of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Ma Jiantang, said at a news conference on Jan 20 that the figure beat the full-year target of 10 million.

Urban employment increased slightly from 13.1 million recorded in 2013.

China’s net job increase was 10.7 million with surveyed unemployment rate at around 5.1 percent in 2014.

Ma said the employment data, along with gross domestic product (GDP) growth and inflation data, were positive signs for China’s economy.

The NBS announced on Jan 20 that China’s economy grew 7.4 percent in 2014, in line with market expectations.