High salary expectations are hindering Shanghai university graduates in their search for jobs, according to a survey by Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.

The academy's social development research institute surveyed more than 3,000 fresh graduates from all local universities about their expectations on first-year salary.

About 30 percent said they expected to be paid 2,000 yuan (US$241) to 3,000 yuan a month. Another 23 percent expected more than 3,000 yuan.

Twenty-eight percent said they hoped to get 1,000 yuan to 2,000 yuan a month, the survey reported.

"Though this year's graduates have lower payment targets than those of last year, their expectations are still too high," said Yang Xiong, the research institute director.

Yang said many local graduates now won't accept jobs with less than 2,000 yuan salary. Students from the country's key universities tend to target about 2,500 yuan.

"But the situation differs between universities and subject majors, as well as between local and migrant students," Yang said.

He said native graduates in some hot majors had the highest expectations.

Some mechanics majors asked for 7,000 to 8,000 yuan, the survey said. The survey indicated that female graduates and arts majors have a harder time this year.

Among all graduates who have signed work contracts so far, only 31 percent are females and 27 percent are arts majors.

But demand for graduates in some sciences, such as information technology, is 40 times the supply.

"Finding an ideal job almost becomes a mission impossible now," said Chang Junhua, a Jiangsu-native student at Shanghai Fishery University.

(eastday.com  June 18, 2004)