China's dearth of skilled workers has been comparatively eased, with more than 3 million people obtaining national vocational qualification certificates during the first half this year.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security made the judgment in a recently-issued document. But figures from local labour markets indicate the shortage is still grave.

About 3.2 million people received the certificates during January-June period, a 35 per cent year-on-year increase.

Among them, 32,064 workers were awarded the title of skilled technician and 9,407 were granted the title of senior technician.

The ministry attributed the increases to the government's decision to promote vocational education.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the State Asset Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council jointly launched a move this year to develop 500,000 senior technicians within three years.

At the same time, the initiative is expected to promote the development of skilled workers and technicians at junior and medium levels.

Despite the progress, shortages are still faced by many industries across China, especially in major economic powerhouses, like the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta regions.

The eastern Shanghai Municipality, according to local government estimates, will suffer a shortage of 18,000 technicians in the next three years in the fields of craft design, machine tool operations, electrical equipment operations and optical optimization controls and electronics.

Even in Northeast China, the country's old industrial base and once a cradle for skilled workers, a shortage of technicians is severely hindering the region's revitalization process.

"A dearth of skilled workers has had negative effects on the development of some products, enterprises and industries," said Mo Rong, vice-director of the Institute of Labour Sciences under the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

Statistics show that among the 70 million workers in the nation, senior technicians account for only 3.5 per cent, compared with a 40 per cent ratio in developed countries.

According to Mo, the situation is growing better, however. Technician shortages are a problem stemming from most Chinese thinking that entering universities was the only way out for their children.

But now, more and more people are beginning to realize that someone with a skill can find work easily, and vocational schools are becoming popular choices again.

In Beijing, student numbers in vocational schools have increased to 21,000 this year from 16,000 in 2000, though the school numbers fell from 141 in 2000 to 46 at present.

The government expects more and more young people to become technicians with improved salaries and other benefits.

(China Daily September 6, 2004)