Thaindian News

Beijing, Feb 27 (IANS) At least 150 million rural workers across China migrate to cities every year in search of jobs and 24 million city dwellers are unemployed in the country, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said Saturday.
“Every year 150 million migrant workers leave their rural homes to look for jobs in cities, 24 million urban unemployed are waiting for jobs and the number of university graduates will hit a record high of 6.3 million this year, all adding up to our employment pressure,” Wen said during an online chat with netizens.

In spite of labour shortage in coastal cities, the country has been facing serious challenges in employment, the prime minister said.

He attributed the lack of workforce in coastal areas to increasing demand of skilled labours triggered by industrial growth as part of economic recovery, according to Xinhua.

“It may be the result of economic recovery, which enables the enterprises to improve production, get more orders and thus need more workers,” he said, adding, “Some enterprises need skilled workers, which the society is widely short of”.

Wen said the labour shortage in certain areas signals a stabilised and recovering economy, but the serious employment situation has not changed in general.

However, the prime minister said citing a report that the number of farmers who have migrated to cities this year has dropped 6 percent from last year.

“It is what we hope to see if they stay home because the economic situation in rural areas is getting better and their living conditions have improved,” he added.