Comments on: Equal Pay: University Graduates and Migrant Workers

By: Jenny Zhu

Jenny Zhu — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 07:37:37 +0000

hi Rain,
From reading what you wrote, I think you have a very bright future ahead of you. All the best in 2009!

By: rain fu

rain fu — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:06:47 +0000

i think it may be not a bad thing. As for those university graduates, it is hard to seek for a good job with good salary this year or maybe in several years. As a junior, these days I am learning some information about the employment rate of the seniors in our university. The results are really worrying. Only a few have signed to some decent companies, which promised to offer a good salary and welfare. Although it is not the right time for seeking jobs now, compared with last year , this year the employment rate is far lower. It is said next year will be worse. Many of my classmates have decided to further our study to avoid the depression for job hunting.. So have I. Fortunately, our government is implementing the college expansion plan. In my opinion, at the same time the crisis has its advantage. As our teachers said, if one is very proficiency in something, he can obtain a job in any situation, however bad it is, because of some big companies still existing. So the biggest thing that we should do is to learn better rather than blame the society. For those graduates who have not found a job. My idea is for them is to lower your expectation for salary or welfare. The longest day has an end. The economic crisis will be over one day. And I think China will soon be able to get through this period of gloomy time. As for the millions of migrant workers, the bleak economy only adds to a big blow for their lives. The companies crack down. They become the laid-off workers. But they are worse than graduates, because mostly they have family to feed. Also I think it is not a big problem. Probably our government has already came up with a solution to aid these people, maybe like America, to build more local public works ,such as railways, power stations and so on or maybe to give more welfare to them. Meanwhile, these workers should improve themselves to be more competent at work. I have to say that some of them are too deficient to handle the problems on job well. Even some experts are not qualified, to let alone the blue-collar workers.
Generally speaking, Chinese people‘s lives still remain stable. We don’t need to worry about it. I am confident to our economy.

By: Jenny Zhu

Jenny Zhu — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 02:22:32 +0000

Cassie and Kaka,
Yes, as a 过来人/guo4 lai2 ren2/someone who’s lived through it, I say optimism and breaking into the door are the rule of thumb.

By: Jenny Zhu

Jenny Zhu — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 02:21:00 +0000

Feds (aka Kris),
It would be nice indeed to have a PA. Living in China is so pampering. How are you doing? Merry Christmas and happy 2009!

By: kaka

kaka — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:52:19 +0000

Graduates must face the severe fact, as long as they can find a job to support themselves, they’d better accept the job and learn from the colleagues. Do everything from the new beginning by heart. Be low, don’t be proud but learn. Some day, maybe more opportunities are waiting in front of you.

By: Feds

Feds — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 03:23:34 +0000

Jenny, thanks for this post - I was starting to suspect the very same. It’s amazing how quickly college grads will lower their expectations in China. How about fresh grads as personal assistants at 1000 rmb/month for us? I think so!
As for the migrant workers, they usually have real skills that are marketable. Speaking as someone who studied for 7+ years in uni, I’m sure I could have learned a lot more in several weeks as a welding apprentice.

By: John Biesnecker

John Biesnecker — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 06:57:35 +0000

The point about “returning home and starting their own business” is really interesting. Much like in the US, where manufacturing jobs have disappeared and aren’t coming back, the extremely light, low-margin manufacturing that has driven China’s economic growth over the last few decades is flowing to places with lower costs, and it won’t be coming back. China will have to adapt, and one of the best ways to adapt would be if these migrant workers take what they’ve learned back to the interior and use it to spur their local economy.

By: Clara

Clara — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:15:10 +0000

The most import thing, i think, is to improve one’s own capability to stand above all the rivils in job-hutting and adopt to the society.

By: Cassie

Cassie — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 05:49:28 +0000

一定不能眼高手低，要先学会从基层做起！专业不对口没关系，用心做会有意想不到的收获。

By: Jenny Zhu

Jenny Zhu — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 06:11:18 +0000

Hi Tom,
Likewise. It’s always great to hear your take. Take care!