Young office workers in Shanghai city are more concerned about updating their job skills than finding a new position or getting a pay rise, a recent survey suggests.

Zhaopin.com, one of China's largest Web-based headhunting firms, surveyed 1,575 local white-collar workers, all of whom have only been out of school for two or three years, about their plans and goals for the year.

About 43 percent of respondents said they are planning to sign up for part-time or full-time training courses - such as English classes or an MBA program - to make themselves more employable in the city's increasingly competitive job market.

Only 34 percent of those surveyed said their top goal for the year is finding a new job.

"Office workers are becoming more rational about their career development, therefore they attach much more importance to their personal abilities," said Zhaopin CEO Liu Hao.

In the past, a large number of people would start looking for new jobs right after the Spring Festival, when they had just received their year-end bonuses.

That trend hasn't completely disappeared, said local headhunters, who expect local employment fairs to attract far more job seekers than usual in March.

The survey concludes that local office workers still dream about a better job and higher pay, but they have come to realize they must first prepare themselves to succeed in a competitive market before sending out resumes.

Attending training courses is a good way for employees to improve their skills and make it easier to find a good position in the future, Liu said.

"As an increasing number of Shanghainese who studied abroad are now returning to compete for jobs in Shanghai, together with local professionals with various certificates and licenses, how can I beat them to get a satisfactory job without improving myself," asked Zhang Qian, who works as a manager at a German company in the city.

Only 9 percent of those surveyed said their main goal for the year was to get a pay rise, while only 5 percent said they are eager for a promotion.

Other respondents of the survey said they want to get along better with co-workers or want more vacation time.

(China Daily  February 19, 2004)