Shanghai will create 500,000 new jobs this year for laid-off workers, unemployed youth and those living in the suburbs, city officials announced yesterday.

 

The government said it plans to keep the registered unemployment rate below 4.5 percent this year, and will provide internship opportunities to 30,000 jobless youngsters.

 

Last year, 663,000 jobs were created across the city, surpassing the government's target by 163,000 positions.

 

"Although we fulfilled our goal last year, we should notice that unemployment among young people is becoming an increasingly prominent issue in the city," said Sheng Zuhuan, a spokesperson for the Shanghai Labor and Social Security Bureau.

 

More than 143,000 students will graduate from colleges and universities in the city this year, an 11 percent increase from last year, which should add to pressure in the job market.

 

About 49,000 of those graduate come from vocational colleges, and they will likely face the most difficulty finding work, according to Shen Xiaoming, director of the Shanghai Education Commission.

 

"With the growing supply of university graduates, it does pose a greater challenge for the city to tackle the unemployment problem among young people," Shen said.

 

The city government plans to set up training programs for 5,000 college and university graduates this year, in order to equip them with stronger vocational skills.

 

Each of the trainees will undergo tailor-made training at local companies and enterprises during their studies.

 

(Shanghai Daily March 9, 2007)