BEIJING, Sept. 11 -- China's national political advisors urged special employment policies and more vocational training for ethnic minorities at a meeting here Thursday.

Members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee warned that employment remains a major problem in the regions with large ethnic minority populations, said a statement issued after the meeting, presided over by Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee.

People from these groups have difficulty finding jobs due to educational and linguistic differences and life could get even tougher for them as urbanization speeds up, according to political advisors.

Local governments should invest more in industries and services that suit local ethnic people and improve their level of Mandarin, they suggested.

They also proposed that schools should offer more vocational training programs and help students plan careers.

Political advisors meet every two weeks to discuss current economic and social issues.