The Disconnection Between American Education and Market Leads to Lack of Technical Talents
According to the Financial Times, the technical ability of American unemployed people does not match with employment opportunities. Although the unemployment rate is over 9%, some companies find it difficult to recruit suitable talents. Spiegel, CEO of Siemens U.S., believed that this problem revealed the inadequacy of American education and training, and his concern about the lack of technical talents resonated with many American business leaders. This month, the President's advisory committee initiated a nationwide Technology Plan for America's Future, providing services such as training, employee development, and job placement to help people find employment in the industrial sector.
★ Career Prospects Comment: Nowadays, companies are becoming more streamlined and technology-intensive. There is a gap between the educational level and skills that the unemployed currently possess and what producers require.
Online Store Recruitment Attracts Young People, International Students Compete to Be Shop Assistants
Recently, at a job fair held at the Jinan City Human Resources Market, the online sales customer service positions recruited by a large clothing online store in the provincial capital became a sought-after target for many college student job seekers, with hundreds of applicants. Among them were even international students and postgraduate students using microblogs to seek jobs. Meanwhile, some companies at the job fair recruiting salespeople for fieldwork, despite offering good benefits, were clearly neglected.
According to Mr. Yin from the human resources department of the clothing online store, the shop assistant position requires familiarity with e-commerce trading platforms, proficient computer operation, and a typing speed of at least 50 words per minute. Those with Taobao or other online sales experience will be given priority.
★ Career Prospects Comment: In fact, online store sales and field sales have the same nature of work, both requiring familiarity with product features and customer needs to sell products.
Female College Graduates Prefer Clerk Positions
Recently, a specialized talent recruitment fair for female college graduates has created a big surprise: last year's popular sales positions are now deserted, while clerk positions with lower thresholds and lower salaries have become the coveted choice for this year's female college graduates.
From the recruitment fair site, it was learned that at every booth recruiting clerks or administrative staff, there were crowds of female college graduates waiting to apply, with some even forming long queues. Despite the monthly salary for clerks generally being only 1200 to 1500 yuan, the female college graduates who signed up felt that clerical work mainly involves copying and writing, which suits girls better.
★ Career Prospects Comment: Finding an easy job is certainly important, but realizing self-worth still depends on finding a job that suits you.
Labor Shortage Upgrades
The labor shortage frequently reported during the financial crisis seems far from being a fleeting phenomenon. According to data released by the Chinese Human Resources Market Information Monitoring Center, in the first quarter of 2011, among the 101 cities monitored, the vacancy-to-applicant ratio (the ratio of job vacancies to job seekers) was approximately 1.07, surpassing the historical high point of 0.98 from 2007-2008.
Coastal provinces are undoubtedly the hardest-hit areas in this labor shortage. Among them, ordinary workers are the most lacking type of workforce. According to surveys, currently, the three industries of electrical manufacturing, mechanical processing, and garment and footwear production in the Pearl River Delta region face the most severe labor shortages.
★ Career Prospects Comment: The relocation of many coastal enterprises inland provides employment opportunities locally. Wages and living standards for employees in inland areas are also increasing annually. Combined with the convenience of taking care of families, a considerable number of migrant workers choose nearby employment. Moreover, the labor shortage faced by enterprises is gradually shifting from ordinary workers to skilled talents.
More than a Thousand Migrant Workers Pre-register for the Dream Realization Plan
By 4 p.m. on the 20th, a total of 1696 migrant workers in Shenzhen had completed pre-registration for the Dream Realization Plan. It was reported that the quota for this year's Dream Realization Plan, aimed at assisting struggling worker-migrant education, is the largest ever. Among various free skill trainings, the computer operator course was the most popular. This training program is linked to Shenzhen's recruitment and adjustment project for workers. After training, participants can take relevant skill exams, and upon passing, they can be recruited as urgently needed talents and settle down, according to Hohhot Talent Network. Additionally, the enrollment situation for training programs such as primary electrician, computer-aided design, and primary refrigeration was also favorable, according to a related official from the Shenzhen Federation of Trade Unions.
It was understood that this year's Dream Realization Plan aims to cultivate highly skilled talents and innovative, knowledge-based industrial workers for Shenzhen's industrial structure adjustment. There are 300 subsidized seats for associate degree education and 1000 free vocational skill training seats, expanding the total number of subsidies for the first time to 2000 people.
★ Career Prospects Comment: Knowledge is power. Mastering corresponding culture and technology ensures that one doesn't have to worry about finding work or sustaining oneself wherever they go.
Frontline Talents Remain Highly Sought After
Recently, the demand for general workers and frontline operators in the human resources market remains high, mainly concentrated in operation workers in chemical, electronic, pharmaceutical, food, network, and machinery processing and manufacturing enterprises. At the same time, to attract talent, enterprises have improved related welfare benefits, including providing dormitories, free shuttles, free work meals, paid annual leave, five insurances and one fund, etc.
★ Career Prospects Comment: General worker positions do not require technical backgrounds and have no high academic requirements. When companies select candidates, they mainly value the applicant's interest and passion for the industry, as well as whether they possess a spirit of hard work and endurance.
Manufacturing Industry Faces a Large Gap in Ordinary Workers
According to relevant statistics, since the beginning of the year, many enterprises have had significant gaps in skilled and ordinary workers. Survey data targeting some companies in May showed that the demand for technical ordinary worker positions accounted for 7.2%, while the number of applicants for technical ordinary worker positions was only 4.2%, far from meeting the recruitment needs.
★ Career Prospects Comment: It is reported that due to the demand gap for ordinary and skilled workers, the recruitment market has changed from its previous coldness, with employers even squatting to snatch skilled workers.