Opting for ‘slower employment’?
With 7.95 million fresh graduates out this year, the country’s job market for youngsters is likely to be very competitive in the coming months.
Recent media reports related to the employment situation for these graduates point to anxiety among them. Local online portal NetEase says an increasing number of college graduates are going in for “slower employment” options that allow them the time to observe and learn more as they adjust to a new reality. According to Xinhua News Agency, some are pursuing a gap year, a popular trend in the West, where high school graduates take a year off to travel or follow personal interests before joining college. But many Chinese college graduates also seem interested in taking time off before finding a full-time job.
Some young people are reacting to such reports in social media by saying they are expected to face an overcrowded job market all by themselves. Media commentators, however, say the government should
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See more > looks at a screen at a job fair in April in Nanjing, Jiangsu province.
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not waver in its policy target of achieving adequate employment as it could cause panic among young people and hurt the future growth of the economy.
So, is “slower employment” a viable option for young graduates?
For a government that has tried its best to help universities recruit more students, the responsibility of helping these students find jobs when they graduate is important. Millions of young people’s livelihoods and the future of the nation’s economy depend on this.
Employment is one of the most important factors in an economy’s health. It is also fundamental to social stability. Once unemployment increases, China’s competitiveness in the world market may reduce.