According to Jiang Yun, director of the provincial labor and social security bureau, the non-state economic sector and the community service sector have turned out to be the primary absorbers of the unemployed.

An estimated 65 percent of the total 149,000 people who were successfully re-employed went to the non-state economic sector, which was popular for having adopted the same social security policy towards its employees as sectors with other ownership, and illegal activities like recruiting without contracts and social insurance have been severely punished.

This has greatly relieved those who worry about entering into the non-state sector, Jiang said.

Meanwhile, an increase of community service projects in the city has helped create a large number of jobs. The city government also beefed up assistance to those re-employed in this sector at an older age. Last year alone, some 17,000 people received financial aid averaging 939 yuan (about US$113) per person.

According to information from the labor market, males face more difficulties than females in finding jobs since most of the city’s labor-intensive enterprises engage in light textile and electronics industries, where females enjoy more advantages.

Therefore, Jiang pointed out, it is important not only to intensify social security but also to enhance professional training.

(Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2003)