Graduate outlookThe main opportunities for foreign graduates in the Chinese labour market are usually to be found in teaching, particularly English. Non-teaching positions tend to be in the media and the areas of trade and joint ventures. Recruitment has traditionally been handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. Skills employers look forA 2006 Gallop survey of China employers found that they are looking for applicants with: - communication skills and foreign language (including English) skills;
- self-awareness, flexibility and the ability to deal with change;
- an insight into the job and the industry;
- relevant work experience;
- the ability to take the initiative;
- a passion for work;
- a team-working spirit;
- the ability to work under pressure;
- an international outlook, awareness and acceptance of foreign culture;
- managed expectations following study.
Fluent Chinese language ability and/or eligibility to work in China are also essential. There is intense competition for graduate vacancies from home Chinese graduates with many graduate employers looking to hire from local universities. Experienced accountants, financial analysts and managers are currently particularly in demand. back to top The economyFollowing the opening up of the Communist regime to foreign investment in 1978, the Chinese economy has become the fastest growing economy in the world. It is now among the world’s ten largest economies with annual growth of around 10% (The Economist, 2006). Only one-third of the economy remains as state-controlled. China is undergoing what has been termed a ‘second industrial revolution’. China is the fifth largest exporter of merchandise in the world. Exports include: - electrical machinery and equipment;
- clothing and textiles;
- petroleum products.
In the longer term, China is seeking to rebalance this economic growth with less reliance upon exports, and an expansion of investment and consumer spending. Further informationback to top CompaniesMultinational companies continue to enter the China market, although local enterprises are catching up aggressively. The British Chamber of Commerce in China has a network of member organisations that do business in the UK and China. Multinationals with a base in China include: Construction, manufacturing, pharmaceutical - Airbus
- ARUP
- Astrazeneca
- BP
- GlaxoSmithKline
- IBM China Co Ltd
- ICI
- Johnson & Johnson
- McKinsey
- Motorola China Electronics Ltd
- Mott McDonald
- Procter & Gamble (China) Ltd
- Shell
- Siemens Ltd China
- Texas Instruments China Inc
- Watson Wyatt
- WS Atkins
Financial services - Accenture
- Barclay's Group
- Ernst & Young
- HSBC
- KPMG
- National Westminster Bank
- PricewaterhouseCoopers
- Prudential
- Royal Sun Alliance
IT - Dell
- Hewlett Packard
- IBM
- Lenovo
- Microsoft
Legal - Allen & Overy
- Ashurst Morris Crisp
- Baker & McKenzie
- Barlow Lyde & Gilbert
- Bird & Bird
- Clifford Chance
- CMS Cameron McKenna
- Denton Wilde Sapte
- Herbert Smith
- Lovells
- Simmons & Simmons
- Slaughter & May
The Business-China.com website also has listings of Chinese companies. back to top UnemploymentUnemployment levels for Chinese graduates are currently rising. In 2006, there were over four million university leavers compared to only 1.7 million graduate positions available (The Guardian, May 2006). About 30% of college graduates did not find a job upon graduation, according to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (China.org.cn, 2006). back to top Working practices and customsMost Chinese organisations work a six-day week and are generally closed on Sundays, although there are some regional variations. Sunday is seen as a day when families come together. Vacations are typically centred round the main public holidays: - New Year’s Day;
- Spring Festival (Chinese New Year - late January);
- International Labour Day (1 May);
- National Day (1 October).
There is a progressive rate of income taxation above a certain allowance. The rate varies from 5-45%. See country overview for more information on the working culture in China. back to top Language requirementsThere are seven major language groups in China. Mandarin Chinese is the official language of the country, spoken by 70% of the population (720 million). Mandarin is mainly spoken in the centre, north and west of the country. Knowledge of Mandarin or another local language is usually required for employment. English is also becoming increasingly important for international business communication. Language courses- Mandarin courses are taught in the UK at local universities and colleges.
- Several universities in the UK have Confucius Institutes that teach the Chinese language and culture. See the British Association for Chinese Studies website for details.
- Online language learning materials are available from various websites including BBC Languages and Speak Chinese.
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China: Job market
