Since 1999, when universities and colleges expanded enrolment, the unemployment of undergraduates has become more and more serious. According to the Ministry of Education, there were 840,000 undergraduates in 1999. Recent data released by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security found the number of fresh graduates reached a new high of 6.99 million in 2013. Based on previous employment rates, even if 80 percent of undergraduates gain some form of first employment, the number without jobs will still be large. As is true around the world, female undergraduates face extra difficulties in the competition for jobs.
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or incapacity. In a certain sense, a considerable portion of China’s development achievements comes from the sacrifices of migrant workers. With low incomes, many live in poverty and suffer from occupational diseases due to bad working conditions. Families are separated; children do not have adequate educations.
RESTRICTIONS ENCOUNTERED BY MIGRANTS
The household registration system is an important barrier for integrating migrants in cities, and in recent years, some small and medium-sized cities have come up with policies to abandon registration restrictions. But since the system is linked with certain services and benefits, and the carrying capacities of cities are limited, many restrictions to obtaining local household registration persist in large and mediumsized cities, such as the “point system” of household registration in Guangdong Province.
Populations of migrant workers in different cities range from several thousands to millions. Economic and educational opportunities are two major reasons attracting them to urban areas. Over time, some become registered city residents, but most remain registered as rural residents. This leaves them in a ‘half-urban’ state. They do not enjoy the same benefits as people with urban household registration, and have little protection in case of lost employment
The national and some city governments have taken measures to safeguard the rights of migrants, and to promote equitable access to services and resources, including by extending education opportunities and increasing the minimum wage. Since migrant families are often concerned about their children not being able to take college entrance examinations with domicile registration restrictions, for example,
Figure Figure 2.3 2.3
CHALLENGES TO LIVEABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY
jobs. In some provinces, the income from migrants exceeds local fiscal revenues.
Population over 65 as a portion of total population, 1982-2011
2
10 8
1.5
billion
6 1 4 0.5
%
2
0
0 1982 1990 1995 2000 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Total population
Population over 65
Proportion (right)
Source: National Bureau of Statistics, “China Statistical Yearbook 2012.”
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