College students should not feel upset that their salaries are not as good as migrant workers', and should correctly understand their own advantages and disadvantages

College students should not feel discontented that their salaries are not as good as migrant workers', and they should correctly view their own strengths and weaknesses.

Author: admin

Date: February 20, 2011, 10:08:30 AM

Not only do individuals compare themselves with others, but also groups compare their incomes with each other. For example, in recent years, due to the so-called "migrant worker shortage" and the difficulty of college graduates finding employment, there has been a widespread claim that college graduates are not as good as migrant workers, which has had quite an impact.

After the Lunar New Year, the labor market usually enters its peak season. Both migrant workers and recent college graduates are looking for opportunities in the job market. As a result, the topic of college graduates' starting salaries being generally lower than those of migrant workers is once again being discussed.

The level of salary in a position simply reflects the supply and demand dynamics behind that position and has nothing to do with the identity of the person holding the position. If one's qualifications meet the employment requirements and they are willing, a college graduate can also work as a mover, and a migrant worker can work as an office clerk. However, in reality, it is more common for college graduates to be office clerks and migrant workers to be movers. These positions have thus been labeled by identity, and the difference in salaries has been simplified as a difference in identity. When changes in market supply and demand cause fluctuations in salaries—such as when the wages of movers rise while the wages of office clerks gradually fall—society interprets this as a change in class and identity. Consequently, the lament that "college graduates are not as good as migrant workers" is a great distortion.

A low starting salary for college graduates does not mean that education is useless. Many white-collar workers who now earn high salaries started from the bottom, with monthly salaries lower than those of migrant workers. Moreover, fixating on the low starting salary and simply comparing oneself to migrant workers is meaningless. The advantage of college graduates lies in having a comprehensive knowledge system, strong learning ability, and high overall quality. In terms of career development potential, they are incomparable to migrant workers who engage in simple tasks and repetitive labor for long periods. Therefore, college students should recognize their own advantages and focus on improving their own qualities. One must be strong oneself before forging iron; if one seeks shortcuts, worries excessively about gains and losses, it may not only result in a starting salary lower than that of a migrant worker, but also, after a few years, whether or not they can find a job will become uncertain.

University graduates require much more investment in education compared to migrant workers and technical school graduates. In principle, they should also have a higher starting point. However, we must realize that although companies value academic credentials, they value talent and practical contributions even more. In coastal areas where there is a large personnel gap, many large enterprises have internal training institutions that can cultivate talent themselves, thereby making their personnel structure more stable. Therefore, their requirements for job seekers place more emphasis on personal qualities, adaptability, and the ability to handle emergencies.

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