CORRECTED - CORRECTED-China, hit by protests, says job stability top priorit

(Deletes fourth paragraph to remove incorrect jobless figures)

BEIJING, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Stabilising employment is the top priority for China, a minister said on Thursday as he revealed a rise in jobless workers triggered by a weakened export sector amid a series of strikes and protests.

Unemployment rose in October as the impact of the global financial crisis hit China's production heartland. The ranks of jobless are expected to rise further in 2009, Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Yin Weimin said.

"Stabilising employment is the top priority for us right now," Yin said. "This is something we are concerned about. The unemployment situation is basically stable this year. But starting in October, unemployment in China has begun to show the impact of changes in the international economic situation.

"This has been particularly the case for small and medium enterprises in labour-intensive sectors. Some have closed altogether, or shut or reduced production, resulting in lay-offs."

After decades of solid economic growth, China is battling an unknown as falling demand for its products triggers factory closures, sparks protests and raises fears of popular unrest. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Writing by Lucy Hornby; Editing by Nick Macfie)