Job Discussion Forums

[No Moss]

Hi, I'm just wondering, in general, if the job situtation in China has recovered to the point that it is as good as it was last August? Are hourly rates on the rise, remaining stable, or going down?

Thank you for any replies.

[Roger]

A tentative speculative answer: After losing teachers prematurely during the ongoing semester (they were free to return at full airfare), then the SARS thing fading away, they found themselves handicapped in hiring new faces. The most visible immediate effect was that hourly wages jumped up in a few localities. Now with summer holikdays beginning, many a private institute cannot find a teacher, so they promise higher pay. I noticed a Zhuhai public school advertising a lecturer position for 12'000 RMB. The advert appeared a couple of weeks later, this time with a salary tag of '7000 to 9000 RMB'.
I think therefore that many candidates have tried to crank up the salary levels, and desperadoes this side of the world accepted, only to find themselves saddled with the same underqualified but overdemanding backpackers - who they got rid of as fast as possible. THus, the salaries may be sliding down again.

Let us not forget that the Internet is a most wonderful tool - it maximises the reach of those who have something to offer. A job offer usually attracts dozens, if not hundreds of applications!