New graduates should adjust job search expectations

China added 7.25 million jobs in the first half, slightly higher than last year. But as the economy slows down and undergoes restructuring, Chinese leaders are focusing more on unemployment issues.

For more on China's labour market, we're now joined in the studio by my colleague Xie SiSi.

Q1: Economic development usually directly influences employment situation. China's National Bureau of Statistics just announced that the country's second quarter GDP growth slowed to 7.5 percent. What impact do you think this will have on employment?

A1: At the press conference, officials emphasized that China's slower economic performance in the second quarter did NOT have much of an impact on the job market. And that may be true for now. Signs that the employment situation is worsening would not be seen until the THIRD quarter, when new graduates leave school and enter the job market. So the impact of the slowing economy will be really felt and possibly amplified in the coming months. The oversupply of labour has been a problem in China in recent years. EVEN WHEN the economy was running at high speeds, like 8 percent growth, there were 25 million job-hunters competing for just 12 million positions in the market. Now analysts are saying the slowdown could make the problem even worse in the second half of this year.

Q2: In your story, you mentioned that many experts suggest that job hunters should lower their expectations. Why do you think this advice could be helpful to applicants?

A2: It IS definitely helpful, I mean, particularly for those graduates who JUST got out of school and are starting their careers. According to the 2013 Chinese College Graduates' Employment Annual Report issued last month, employment rates THIS year are far lower than last year. Just last year the employment rate was almost 50 percent by April, and over 90 percent by the end of the year. But by early April of this year, only ONE out of THREE graduates with a bachelor degrees had landed a job. For master's degree graduates, this year's prospects look even GLOOMIER. Only ONE out of FOUR had been recruited by early April. So the experts are suggesting, for those fresh out of school, it's more important to find a suitable career, and rack up related WORK EXPERIENCE and RESOURCES in the coming years. Salaries and positions should not be the ONLY criteria for job seekers.