Develop tertiary industry to help graduates

To begin with, tertiary industry's share in GDP is low, and falling. According to China Statistical Yearbook, tertiary industry accounted for 43.7 percent of GDP in 2012, compared with 45.2 percent in 2006, 46.3 percent in 2007 and 45 percent in 2008. In developed countries, the percentage is generally more than 60 and even 70. For example, in the US, tertiary industry accounted for 79.6 percent of GDP in 2012.

Moreover, the jobs that China's tertiary industry offers are concentrated in basic service fields that don't require special knowledge and skills, and the market for high-end, knowledge-intensive and creative talents is still quite limited.

Another major problem is that China is still a labor-intensive economy, and the shortage of migrant workers in many areas and low employment rate of graduates prove that. For years, the contribution of secondary industry to GDP has been as high as 50 percent, even more. In recent years, the government's investment in infrastructure has facilitated the further development of secondary industry, especially the iron and steel, construction material and heavy machinery sectors.

In contrast, tertiary industry's financing volume and its ability to provide jobs declined, even if only slightly.

The authorities know how important the transformation of the industrial structure, which includes the development of tertiary industry, is for the country. In fact, they have taken measures to stimulate the transformation, but it could still take decades to become reality.

China will certainly become a knowledge-based economy led by a strong tertiary industry someday, but college students cannot wait until then to find suitable employment.

Since the low graduate employment rate is an economic structural issue, the most pressing problem for graduates now is to get a suitable job, not any job. Given the situation, graduates have to change their perception about jobs. For instance, why should they always try to work in an office? Why can't they take up a position in a factory? Or, why can't they try their hand at business?

The secret to success is to set a goal, no matter which field it is in, and work until it is achieved. Perhaps graduates should rethink what a good career is and adapt themselves to the changing situation.

The author is a writer with China Daily.

E-mail: wangyiqing@chinadaily.com.cn.

(China Daily 07/19/2013 page9)