China's college grads seek work
Unlike older generations, China's youth are not used to the poor job market they face as they graduate college
Crowds pile in at a government sponsored job fair in Beijing -- The gateway to a potential opportunity in a dire economic climate.
Companies are firing people and we're competing with layoffs, says Xu Meilin, she is graduating from college next year. Her hopes of finding a job in finance, dim.
Of course, I am worried, says another job seeker, but all I can do is wait for a chance and try my luck. More than 15,000 people are expected at this job fair. Many of them, young people, hoping to find that dream job. About 500 companies are here, but in the middle of an economic crisis, how many jobs will be offered is unknown.
The Chinese government says 6,000,000 students will graduate college here next year, which means even more job seekers in an already strained job market.
It goes without saying that the decline in our economic growth will impact employment. Next year we'll face great pressure on the employment of college graduates.
It is a harsh reality for a generation of young Chinese that hasn’t really seen tough times. Unlike their parents who lived through the Cultural Revolution when China’s economy was backward and isolated, but for the past decade, China’s economy has been booming so strong some young people are taking risks their parents never could. 25-year-old Wu Yelan left a stable but unfulfilling government job to open a café with her husband. She says even though she is worried about the economy, she will never regret her decision.
We are much happier every day.
It is a youthful brand of optimism her peers share.
“Although the financial crisis has hit the world hard, I still have confidence in China”, says another job seeker. The question is -- is their confidence realistic or naïve?
Emily Chang, CNN, Beijing.