labour markets have proven robust even in the midst of the weak global environment and unemployment remains at low levels the jobless rate in japan stood at at the end of whereas it was in the republic of korea in each case lower than it had been in in both countries however there are concerns that the quality of new jobs being created is declining especially insofar as many new contracts are shortterm and in the service sector the urban unemployment rate in china was at in the second quarter of although the quality of labour market statistics is not fully comparable with those of other major countries