An examinee reads exam rules in University of Science and Techonology of China in Heifei, Anhui province, Jan.10, 2009. [Xinhua]

Just when the number of educated job seekers increased, employers were offering fewer jobs, especially in industries at the front line of the global financial crisis.

According to a Dec. 2008 report from www.51job.com, a job seeking website, the number of jobs at banks and security firms dropped by 12 percent between July-December. In the third quarter last year, openings at real estate companies reduced 6 percent from the second quarter.

"Much fewer small and medium firms, which used to take in many graduates, came to the campus to recruit graduates," said Wang Er'xin, official with the employment service office of the Guangzhou-based Sun Yat-sen University.

Postgraduates are also having problems finding jobs.

"This year is not good. At this time in previous years, half of the students would get offers but now many are still waiting," said Wang Hongjun, a postgraduate student who majored in political economics at Beijing-based Renmin University.

Students who majored in economics, finance and commerce were the most affected, he said. "We used to be the most popular."

In a survey covering about 1,300 expectant graduates in 20 universities in Shanghai, conducted by the local education authority, about 60 percent said they will be flexible about salary. Another 20 percent said they had already lowered their expectations about pay.

The Chinese government launched several policies to help college graduates find jobs, including encouraging them to work in rural areas or join the army.

At a meeting on Wednesday, the State Council promised to offer subsidies and social insurance to graduates who work in villages and urban communities, and help those who work in remote areas or join the army to repay student loans.

It also encouraged graduates to start businesses, with favorable tax and loan policies.

All of which could be useful to students who find out their test scores in March.

(Xinhua News Agency January 11, 2009)