URUMQI, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has added 466,000 urban jobs by the end of September thanks to the continuously optimized employment and entrepreneurial environment in the region, local authorities said.

The figure marks an annual increase of 2.62 percent over the same period of last year, completing its annual tasks ahead of schedule, the human resources and social security department of Xinjiang said.

The registered rate of urban unemployment also saw a drop to 3.16 percent as of September.

Xinjiang has implemented a number of supportive measures this year to promote the employment environment such as providing loans and subsidies to start-up firms.