Fudan Professor: More State Aid for College Graduates

By staff reporter Zhang Hong

“In China the government should play the leading role in securing employment,” said CPPCC delegate Ge Jianxiong, a professor of the Shanghai-based Fudan University. “The state provides allowances for people who fall out of employment, and should do the same for those who cannot find jobs immediately after leaving school.”

Meanwhile he warned college graduates to be level-headed about their position in the labor market. “Our goal is to send 40 percent of high school graduates into higher education by 2020, when 20 percent of the nation’s labor force will have college education. So don’t take it for granted that a college diploma will sure land you on white-collar jobs.”

Mr. Ge noticed it is no easy for college students to start businesses, so he believed the government has to carry the major responsibility of creating jobs for these young people. “We have so many state-owned enterprises that run with tax payers’ money. They should do more in this regard.”

He also hoped that the public should come to the awareness that it is no shame for a college graduate to start his/her career from being a garbage collector or desk clerk. The first jobs one takes don’t decide one’s life.