BEIJING — China is steadily carrying out measures to keep jobs stable and has helped 1.96 million unemployed people return to the workforce in the first five months of the year, an official said on June 17.

Another 680,000 struggling job-seekers found work during the period, Li Zhong, vice-minister of human resources and social security, told a press conference.

By the end of May, around 31.33 million people lifted from poverty had joined the country's labor force, Li said. China had vowed to ensure that no less than 30 million people who have shaken off poverty are employed this year.

The country has also paid out $33.4 billion yuan (about $5 billion) in insurance benefits to 5.6 million unemployed people in the five months as China extends policies to expand the coverage of unemployment insurance throughout this year, Li said.