BEIJING: In the face of challenging job prospects caused by a variety of factors, the central government has prioritized the employment of young people, mainly new college graduates, with measures to create opportunities at all levels and tap into previously less noticed sectors and areas.
The latest figures cited from the National Bureau of Statistics show that the surveyed unemployment rate of people aged 16 to 24 was 18.4 percent in May, up 0.2 percentage points from April. The average surveyed unemployment rate in urban areas was 5.9 percent last month.
The NBS said that though the surveyed unemployment rate of 16 to 24 year olds usually shows a rising trend in the period from March to July, their overall unemployment rate this year is higher than in previous years.
The huge impact of COVID-19 on the economy and job market is deemed the major reason for the high level of competition for jobs.
According to a recent survey by Zhaopin, an online recruitment and consultancy platform, 61 percent of surveyed college graduates feel that they face fiercer competition for jobs this year. Many graduates have decided to continue their education, get a flexible job or take a gap year to relieve their employment pressure.
Zhaopin said that both the admission rate and rate of signing official labor contracts for young people have fallen.
–The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
