Two young Chinese with their diplomas queue up to enter a job fair for university graduates in rural Beijing Feb. 16, 2009.

According to a survey conducted by the Social Survey Institute of China (SSIC), to date the overall graduate employment rate is only 36 percent, far short of the target of 70 percent set by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

This year graduates face grim employment prospects. On one hand, official statistics show that the population of Chinese graduates has risen to 6.1 million, and over one million previous graduates have not yet found jobs; on the other hand, the global financial crisis and the slowdown of economy will increase graduates' employment difficulties.

Recently the Social Survey Institute of China (SSIC) carried out a survey of 1000 graduates from 11 cities across China, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen and so on, which showed that to date only 36 percent of graduates have found jobs, far short of the target of 70 percent set by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

In terms of job satisfaction and happiness, the survey revealed that only 27 percent of graduates who have found jobs expressed themselves satisfied with their jobs. The reasons for dissatisfaction with their present jobs mainly lie in three areas: job content; remuneration package, and interpersonal relationships, reflecting a contradiction between the professional environment of universities and social needs.

In addition, about 71 percent of graduates interviewed said that it is very hard to find a job during this grim financial crisis, and 56 percent felt very worried about employment prospects.

According to the survey, replying to the question about an ideal career, 28 percent of graduates preferred national government departments. Next came state-owned enterprises, research units and universities. Graduates who chose private enterprise or decided to start their own businesses account for the smallest proportion.

(China.org.cn by Ma Yujia, February 24, 2009)