A survey released on Tuesday by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security shows that enterprises in 23 big cities, primarily in the country's main economic regions including the Yangtze Delta and Pearl River Delta areas and Bohai Rim region, will be recruiting more employees this spring.

 

A total 2,606 enterprises participated in the survey.

 

More than 80 percent of the enterprises surveyed in cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen plan to increase staff numbers over the next two months.

 

Among them, 40 percent will recruit new hires this month.

 

Survey results also showed that more enterprises would consider new hires based on education level, skills and age. Some 83 percent of enterprises are looking to employ those with at least junior middle school qualifications, 53 percent are looking for skilled workers with technical training, and 62 percent are offering positions to those between the ages of 18 and 25.

 

Some 79 percent of respondents will recruit from the local labor market, 57 percent will advertise, 52.5 percent will rely on referrals, and 27 percent will work through recruitment agencies.

 

Also, 63 percent of respondents said that they would most likely raise salaries to an average monthly wage of 949 yuan (about US$118) for an ordinary worker. Employees of corporations around the Yangtze River Delta area could expect a comparatively higher average monthly pay of 1,063 yuan (about US$132). Around the mid-western area, wages would be comparatively lower at 723 yuan (about US$90) a month.

 

Higher salaries could be expected in certain industries such as transportation, medical and pharmaceutical products, building, and machine manufacturing. Other industries such as some wholesale distribution and retailing, food and beverage, and toy manufacturing could actually lower salaries.

 

Another survey released the same day by the ministry shows that 75 percent of people will leave their homes in the country to look for work. Only?7 percent of those surveyed said they would not.

 

Some 43 percent of respondents said they chose to look for jobs in their own provinces, 20 percent would go to the cities around the Pearl River Delta area and 16 percent would go to the cities around the Yangtze River Delta area.

 

The purpose of this other survey was to find out the conditions of migrant workers, and how they were being paid and treated. A total of 48 counties of 25 provinces, and 5,300 people participated in the survey.

 

Survey results showed that a migrant worker worked an average 9.5 months in 2005; 80 percent of workers were paid in full; 18.5 percent received most of their salaries, and 1.1 percent didn't get paid at all.

 

Among those who wanted to leave their hometowns, 79 percent said they would go back to former employees, and 21 percent wanted a change.

 

Most would turn to relatives or recruitment agencies for help in finding work, and salary expectations are 1,189 yuan (about US$148) a month.

 

(China.org.cn by Zhou Jing, February 10, 2006)