I want to know about the structure of graduate unemployment in China. Cute newspaper headlines are quite inadequate to help in understanding the true nature of graduate unemployment. For example:
1. Does the statistic only include university and college graduates?
2. Does the statistic include high school leavers?
3. Does it include those who are continuing to further study?
4. Are the 'failed' undergraduate job-seekers counted again when they complete their Masters Degree and report that they don't have a job?
5. Are they counted again when they complete their PhDs and report that they don't have a job?
6. What proportion of the graduates who are reported to have failed to find a job is conscientiously looking for a job?
7. What proportion of new graduates had already resigned themselves to further study and/or an emigration dream thereby making only a cursory effort in the job-search process?
8. What is the geographic distribution of unemployed graduates?
9. For example, is the overall China figure substantially increased by the employment situation in western regions?
10. What is the sociographic distribution of unemployed graduates?
11. For example, how does the statistic compare between city-raised kids and village kids?
12. How does it compare between kids from rich and xiaokang families and those from families that merely subsist?
13. What proportion of recent graduates with Beijing Hukou can't find a job in Beijing?
14. What proportion of graduates in Beijing who don't have Beijing Hukou prefer to remain unemployed in Beijing rather than look elsewhere?
15. What proportion of recent graduates who have failed to find a "good job" rejected offers they received?
16. How does the graduate employment situation in China compare with developed nations?
17. How well prepared are Chinese graduates and those who are soon to graduate for the job search process? Is their career search carefully considered, targeted and conscientious; or is it an ‘attach and click’ lucky dip?
18. What proportion of recent graduates has a strong career focus?
19. How many recent graduates with a strong career focus are aiming for jobs that suit neither their skills nor their inherent aptitudes?
20. What proportion of unemployed recent graduates is using their 'unwanted spare time' to improve their chances of success?
Are our concerns well-founded? Are our sympathies well-targeted? Or, are we simply enabling?
I'd like the answers to all of these questions so that I may develop an informed opinion on the topic.
