China's software employees have been suffering from rigid education at universities and lack of training at enterprises, a survey on the existence of software workers by a committee of China Youth Software Promotion Project (CYSPP) found recently. 

The survey, which involved 4400 people, indicated that 60 percent domestic software companies failed to provide necessary career plans for their employees, which are urgently needed at the rapidly updating sector.

Although most software employees hope to improve themselves through training, the social environment provides very few opportunities, the survey revealed. On the one hand, companies are reluctant to train their staff; on the other hand, very few social institutions are able to offer trainings on up-to-date technologies.

It is also found that 77 percent software employees work over eight hours, and those at middle level have no time to digest new ideas or technologies.

Most software graduates are on a salary around 2,000 yuan, and among all engaged in the trade only less than 5 percent, as estimated, can earn an annual pay up to 100,000 yuan.

The survey answered why China lacks qualified software personnel. Backward education system resulted in students weak in programming capability, while enterprises employing them have been unwilling to provide relevant trainings.

Meanwhile, China lacks special institutions to train managerial staff for software development. It causes software major students can hardly find employers, but IT firms have difficulty in recruiting qualified programmers.

(People's Daily May 9, 2005)