Chinese overseas students face tougher job market

A recent report from China's education authorities is suggesting it has become increasingly difficult for Chinese students studying overseas to find a job back on their home soil.
According to the blue paper released by the Ministry of Education, 85 percent of Chinese students studying overseas chose to return to China after graduation in 2013. However these returnees have to compete with millions of new university graduates every year facing fierce competition in China.
Director of the Chinese service center for scholarly exchange Sun Jianming says finding a job is becoming a new test for the returnees.
"Among these students, over half of them expect to pursue their career in Beijing,Shanghai,Guangzhou or Shenzhen. The most welcomed industry is finance, followed by education, information and software services. State-owned enterprises and foreign companies are the most popular destinations, the rest are private owned companies and universities and research institutions."
According to the report, the returnees' expected salary has much to do with their scholarship degree.
For those with no working experience, their average monthly salary runs at around 10 thousand yuan.
Deputy Director of the Chinese service center for scholarly exchange, Che Weimin says the income gap between overseas students and home schools graduates are narrowing.
"The income gap between those receiving bachelors' or lower degrees overseas and those at home is narrowing. The labor market in China is now merit-oriented. Those studying abroad have certain advantages in terms of international horizons and foreign language proficiency. But those advantages are declining compared with those studying at home."
The blue paper also tries to provide professional information for those who have future plan to study abroad.
Che adds that in choosing to study abroad, students should have a complete career plan.
" You should also choose a career according to your own conditions and pay attention to how your peers learning at home choose their jobs. You should also weigh your expectations against the real demands on the labor market. For employers, you should pay attention to whether those returned from overseas have international horizons and good foreign language proficiency or overseas working experience."