BEIJING — Package processor for express deliveries, truck driver and tallyman were among the most wanted professions in the fourth quarter in 2019 driven by the consumption boom before the Spring Festival, official data showed.

On the list of the 100 most in-demand jobs released by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MHRSS), the ranking of package processor for express deliveries climbed 60 places to 40th, with truck driver up 34 slots to rank 17th and tallyman up 11 places to 44th, based on data from public employment agencies in 102 cities monitored by the ministry.

"The surge in ranking and tightening labor crunch for the three professions, among 12 others, were affected by a larger labor demand from heightened consumer market activities in the fourth quarter last year," said Lu Aihong, spokesperson of the MHRSS.

The top five most needed jobs are sales representative, waiter, cashier, security guard and retail salesperson, the latter replacing janitor to assume the fifth slot in the fourth quarter.

Child caregiver and babysitter are among the jobs that saw their places drop on the list, indicating a softened shortage.

Official data showed China's employment market remained stable with the registered urban unemployment rate standing at 3.62 percent at the end of 2019, well below the government's annual target of 4.5 percent.