BEIJING - China's new urban employment number is expected to reach 13 million by the end of 2013, the country's human resource minister said on Thursday.

More than 5.4 million urban people who were laid off will be reemployed, while more than 1.7 million people with poor skills will find jobs by the end of 2013, said Yin Weimin, minister of the Human Resources and Social Security Ministry at a national work conference.

The registered urban unemployment rate is expected to be around 4.1 percent this year, Yin said.

Employment services for college graduates made steady progress this year, with policies such as subsidies benefiting more graduates. Over 20 million people have received subsidized vocational training this year, and over 300 cities have set up unemployment monitoring stations to report to the MHRSS.

Next year, China hopes to create over 10 million new jobs and keep the registered urban unemployment rate below 4.6 percent, Yin said.

The government will highlight employment services for sectors with overcapacity or influenced by mergers and acquisitions, while continuing to support college graduates, people who are laid off or those with poor skills, Yin said.