China outperformed other countries in employment, seen as a major factor in the country's competitiveness rating, which rose to 18 this year, according to the Lausanne Institute for Management Development (IMD) yearbook. 

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said during the opening of the 2017 Summer Davos forum in Dalian that China insists on giving priority to employment as the foundation of inclusive growth.

The IMD's World Competitiveness Ranking began in 1989 with evaluations taking place in four categories, 20 small classes and 260 indicators. 

A girl is applying for a job. /VCG Photo

China's economic performance index rose one place to rank second in the world, the yearbook showed. 

Over the past four years, against a background of economic slowdown, China created new jobs in urban areas for more than 13 million people. 

The country's unemployment rate remains at five percent

(With the input from ChinaDaily)