To Graduate In China: Dead-end or Highway?
Generally speaking, national employment rate of 2010 graduates was 89.6%, increased by 3%, 4% respectively from 2009 and 2008, with income 2479 RMB on average. Which demonstrates that national condition of employment has recovered from financial crisis. In terms of monthly income, it increased by 349 RMB averagely from 2009 graduates to 2010 graduates, specifically, university graduates with bachelor earned higher income (2629 RMB) than college graduates (2027 RMB), while during various majors in university graduates, economics ranked first with 3023 RMB a month on average, followed by engineering with 2953 RMB a month, leaving education at the bottom with 2491 RMB a month. In comparison, college graduates who majored in resource development earn most with 2568 RMB, while graduates majored in medical science earned least with 1713 RMB, according to China market research.
As the figure shows, universities and college graduates from East coast of China, mainly including Shanghai, Tianjin, Hebei Province, Zhejiang Province, Jiangsu Province and Fujian Province, enjoyed highest employment rate with 62.43%, and that can be attributed to regional economical environment, import and export trade motivates local industries and brings opportunity for graduates. Meanwhile they earned most income with about 3600RMB on average compared with other 3 parts, and equally bear high cost of living. Among all, Shanghai graduates’ income is 4800 on average and ranked first. While West China, including Sichuan Province, Yunnan Province, Guizhou Province and Chongqing, suffered the lowest employment rate because of less developed local economical situation. Their income is around 2500 RMB or below. Besides, Middle part of China and Northeast China takes the second and third place respectively with 47.88% and 43.39%.
Difficulty in employment is due to several reasons. First is lack of social experience, since students spend much time on classes and absorb theories instead of practice, they don’t have much flexibility and adaptability when get into work. Second is too much competitors, a sever employment situation requires job seekers to be outstanding and gain competitive advantage, that quality should be accumulated during daily life step by step. Third is too much expectation, graduates seem not realistic when choosing an industry and asking for payment.