Job vacancies on the rise

Government statistics reported a growing number of vacancies in China's job market, up 46% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2004. According to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, a survey of 115 cities revealed 3.801 million advertised openings for 4.013 million job seekers. The number of people looking for work increased 37% year-on-year for the same period. On average, that translates into 100 job seekers competing for 94 vacancies, the ministry said. Finding jobs in East China was easiest, with 111 job vacancies for 100 job seekers. Central China had the toughest job market, with 100 job seekers competing for 77 positions.