Slower economic growth has taken its toll on the job market, creating a scarcity of jobs that poses the most daunting challenge to the government in 2009.

Wen Kui, president of the Capital University of Economics and Business, said at a press conference in Beijing on January 14 that there is currently a 12-million shortfall in available jobs.

The grim economic situation has wiped out numerous jobs in the market. On average there are 24 million people seeking employment, while this year only about 12 million jobs will be available, leaving 12 million people out in the cold.

Mr. Wen said imbalances in the employment structure and old-fashioned attitudes to jobs have acted as a constraint on employment and he suggested that job-placement offices should explore more job sources, and provide timely information and necessary training to make job seekers more suited to the jobs market.

In face of grim job prospects, some graduates are resorting to graduate school, thus to some extent alleviating pressure in the job market.

Although graduate school is a socially acceptable place to "hide", Mr. Wen advised prudence in the choice between taking jobs and pursuing further education.

According to available data, this year there will be 6.1 million new college graduates looking for employment. Adding those who have failed to find jobs after graduation in previous years bring the number to over 7 million.

Some experts suggest the establishment of "post-master" and "post-bachelor" programs similar to the postdoctoral program in which students can take a paid internship before they are able to take their place in the world of steady employment.

(China.org.cn by He Shan, January 15, 2009)