Taiwan's prime minister has staked his premiership on reducing the country's unemployment rate.

Wu Den-yih claimed that he will quit his position as head of the Asian country if he fails to lower the national unemployment rate below five per cent this year, which the president Ma Ying-jeou has committed to do in the next 12 months.

Taiwan's jobless rate was recorded at 5.68 per cent in January, but has steadily improved since posting a record high of 6.13 per cent in August 2009.

The government is aiming to generate 100,000 employment opportunities in 2010, it revealed earlier this year.

Speaking to reporters in southern Kaohsiung city, Mr Wu remained confident that this target will be met, AFP reported.

According to the news agency, he said: "We will achieve the president's goal ... I'll be responsible if I can't achieve it, and being responsible also means resigning."

Earlier this week, premier Wu claimed that Taiwan's unemployment rate is still too high and that more effort must be expended to bring the figure down.