The career guidance center of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences is trying a new method to ease unemployment by launching a mortgage-style career training program for locals.  

Co-initiated by the center and the Australian ABC Education Foundation, the pilot training program, details of which were not revealed, planned to enroll 100 local fresh university graduates for free as its first group.

Graduates only need to fill out a form about their personal information - such as education background, hobby and job intention - before instructors employ a computer software to test out the job seeker's most suitable occupation and help find them jobs.

Students can also ask the instructors to draft a life-long career plan or write a job application for them. The program is different in that those taking part in it don't need to pay before joining. The training program costs about 3,300 yuan (US$398) for a three-month job hunting period.

But, like in a mortgage scheme, the learners are not expected to pay their fees until they find a job.

"With the help of experienced career instructors, this type of hire-purchase training has proved to be very efficient," said Chen Renhe, director of the academy's economics institute.

"We are testing it here to see if it can help to ease the city's unemployment problem." The program will first be applied to local university graduates before it is spread to help middle-aged laid-off workers and surplus labor force in local rural areas.

Besides, program takers may also enjoy a living subsidy during their unemployment period. But the subsidy also needs to be paid off after they get employed.

(Shanghai Daily April 7, 2005)