I. Current Situation of Labor Force Employment
1. Economically Active Population Increases, Labor Force Participation Rate Rises
Economically Active Population refers to the population of 16 years old and above who have the ability to work, and who take part in or request to take part in socio-economic activities. According to sample survey data, the proportion of economically active population in Xiamen City in 2008 (i.e., the labor force participation rate) was 74.0% of the population aged 16 and above. By gender, the labor force participation rate was 82.3% for men and 65.8% for women; the male labor force participation rate was 16.5 percentage points higher than that of women, and more men than women invested in economically active labor resources.
Compared with 2007, the city's labor force participation rate increased by 2.3 percentage points, with an increase in the economically active population. In terms of age, the labor force participation rate of only 4 out of 12 age groups decreased slightly compared with the previous year, and the labor force participation rate of 8 age groups increased; especially the labor force participation rate of the 35-64 year olds, the increase compared with that of the previous year showed a simultaneous upward trend along with the increase in the age of the age groups (see Table 1). This indicates that with the change in the concept of employment, some people who used to be unemployed and had no desire to work have re-entered the labor market, and have changed from the inactive population to the economically active population.
Table 1: Changes in the Labor Force Participation Rate by Age
2008 2007 Increase over the previous year Subtotal 74.0 71.7 2.3 16-19 years old 56.1 57.2 -1.1 20-24 years old 86.3 87.4 -1.0 25-29 years old 87.7 88.2 -0.5 30-34 years old 88.4 89.6 -1.2 35-39 years old 88.3 86.9 1.4 40-44 years old 86.7 84.0 2.7 45-49 years old 80.4 76.3 4.2 50-54 years old 62.7 54.9 7.8 55-59 years old 48.1 35.6 12.5 60-64 years old 24.6 11.7 12.8 65 years old and above 7.7 5.0 2.7
2, The employed population is mainly concentrated in the manufacturing industry, with obvious differences in literacy levels
The employed population is defined as the population aged 16 and above who have the ability to work, engage in a certain amount of social labor and receive labor remuneration or business income. According to the data of the sample survey, the employment structure of the resident population in Xiamen in 2008 was basically the same as that of the previous year, and the employed population was mainly concentrated in the manufacturing industry and the wholesale and retail industry. Among them, the manufacturing sector accounted for 37.2% of the employed population, and the wholesale and retail sector for 15.7%, with the two sectors accommodating more than 50% of the city's employed population. In terms of the literacy level of the employed population, due to the different factors of production in various industries, there are obvious differences in the cultural quality of the employed population between industries. Among them, the proportion of employed population with college degree or above in four industries exceeds 60%, namely: 66.4% in information transmission, computer service and software industry, 64.7% in education, 63.3% in scientific research, technical service and geological survey industry, and 63.2% in financial industry; and the proportion of employed population with college degree or above in three industries is less than 10%, namely: accommodation and catering industry, residential service and other service industry, agriculture, forestry and other service industry, and agriculture, forestry and other service industry, and agriculture, forestry and other service industry. services and other services, and agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery.
3. The average working hours of the employed population shortened, and the rate of signing labor contracts by employees increased
According to the data of the sample survey, the average working hours of the employed population in Xiamen in the survey week of 2008 was 49.57 hours, which was 1.5 hours less than the same period of the previous year. By industry, the average working hours of the employed population in the accommodation and catering industry in the survey week was the longest, 55.97 hours; the other industries whose average working hours of the employed population were higher than the city's average were, in descending order, 54.11 hours in wholesale and retail trade, 51.2 hours in the construction industry, 50.74 hours in the transportation, warehousing and postal services industry, 49.97 hours in the residential and other services industry, 49.68 hours in the manufacturing industry, 49.67 hours in the construction industry, 49.68 hours in the manufacturing industry, and 49.57 hours in the construction industry. 49.68 hours. Employed people working in service-oriented industries as well as labor-intensive industries generally work longer hours.
The signing of labor contracts in accordance with the law is a basic guarantee that clarifies the rights and obligations of both laborers and protects the legitimate rights and interests of workers. The Labor Contract Law, which came into effect on January 1, 2008, has played a positive role in regulating the employment practices of enterprises and building harmonious and stable labor relations, and the rate of labor contracts signed in the city has further increased. According to sample survey data, the labor contract signing rate of the city's employed population was 64.7% in 2008, an increase of 1.7 percentage points from 2007.
4. The proportion of unemployed people increased, and the average duration of unemployment was shortened
The unemployed population refers to people aged 16 and above who are capable of working, have no job at the time of the survey, and have the will to be employed and are looking for a job. According to sample survey data, the proportion of unemployed people in the economically active population in Xiamen increased by 1 percentage point in 2008 compared with the previous year. The increase in the proportion of unemployed people is the result of both the new economically active population in 2008 who have not yet found jobs in time and the decrease in demand for labor by enterprises in the international financial crisis. However, with the gradual change of the employment environment and employment awareness, the unemployed people have adjusted their job requirements, and the duration of unemployment has been shortened. the average duration of unemployment in Xiamen in 2008 was 15.35 months, which is significantly shorter than that of the previous year, which was 18.24 months, and decreased by 2.89 months.
II. Problems in labor force employment
1. Increased employment pressure. At present, the employment situation in Xiamen City, facing laid-off re-employment, employment of new urban labor force, rural surplus labor force transfer employment "three peaks superimposed" situation, the labor force participation rate is rising year by year, the size of the economically active population continues to expand. On the other hand, the international financial crisis has swept across the world, and Xiamen's economic construction, which has a high degree of export orientation, has inevitably been affected by the slowdown in the pace of economic development, and the decline in the demand for labor by enterprises, which has resulted in a reduction in the number of jobs and an increase in the risk of unemployment among workers, and a rise in the proportion of unemployed people. Therefore, the negative effects of the financial crisis on labor and employment in Xiamen have gradually appeared, and the employment situation is grim.
2, there is a structural contradiction between labor supply and demand. According to the data of sample survey, the literacy level of the unemployed population is generally low, and the proportion of the population with junior high school or lower literacy level accounts for more than half of the population, amounting to 53.6%, and these people are unable to find suitable jobs due to their low literacy level and lack of vocational skills. On the other hand, there is a shortage of skilled laborers and workers, and it is common for enterprises to be unable to recruit qualified technicians. The contradiction between the quality of workers' skills and the demand for jobs is widespread.
3. It is difficult for college students to find jobs and start their own businesses. According to the information of the education department, in 2008, Xiamen City, general college graduates were 21,938 people, an increase of 3,574 people over the previous year, an increase of 19.5%. Due to the factors of university expansion in recent years, the number of graduates of ordinary colleges and universities in 2009 will further increase, in front of the employment peak of college graduates, the pressure of employment of college students is highlighted. According to sample survey data, 7% of the city's unemployed population are 20-24 year olds who have never worked after graduation, and a large portion of this type of unemployed population are college graduates who have not found a suitable job after graduation and are staying at home. In terms of the employment status of those who are already employed with a college degree or above, 93.3% are employees, 3.6% are employers, 2.6% are self-employed workers, and 0.5% are domestic helpers. Only 6.2% of college students chose to start their own business after graduation, and the ratio of self-employment to employees was 1:15, which left room for further change in the employment mindset of college students.
4, the lack of labor contracts for migrant workers. According to the data of sample survey, the labor contract signing rate of employees of agricultural households is 57.8%, which is 6.9 percentage points lower than the city's signing rate of 64.7%, and the labor contract signing rate of employees of agricultural households is low. Most of the employees without labor contracts are from agricultural households. The lack of labor contracts makes it difficult for migrant workers to get legal protection for their legitimate rights and interests as laborers.
5. The role of job intermediaries needs to be improved. According to the data of the sample survey, the main way for the unemployed to find jobs is still entrusted to friends and relatives, with the proportion of 44.4%, and the proportion of finding jobs through other ways are: 16.8% through employment agencies, 9.4% attending job fairs, 7.7% responding to job advertisements, and 7.0% preparing to start their own business (see Figure 1). There is still much room for expanding the role of the labor market and employment agencies in the employment of the unemployed.
Three Points of Suggestions
1. Expand employment potential by promoting employment through development. A study shows that every percentage point of national GDP growth will pull 600-700,000 jobs, so we should first focus on the development of the economy to promote employment. Adhere to the scientific concept of development as a guide, closely implement measures to expand domestic demand and maintain growth, and actively respond to the international financial crisis; combine the promotion of economic growth with the adjustment of economic structure, and vigorously develop the modern service industry, to form a new pattern with high-tech industries as the forerunner, the basic industries and manufacturing industries as the support, and the comprehensive development of the service industry. In the Xiamen economy stronger and bigger while expanding employment potential, the formation of economic development and employment expansion of positive interaction.
2, strengthen vocational skills training, improve the employment structure. Active employment training is an effective means to improve the overall quality of labor and promote employment. Therefore, according to the direction of industrial development and demand, targeted vocational training should be carried out to improve the quality of workers, enhance vocational skills, alleviate the contradiction between labor supply and demand, and reduce structural unemployment.
3. Do a good job of employment guidance for college students and encourage self-employment. In the financial crisis situation, ease the employment pressure of college graduates, to solve the problem of some college students "graduation is unemployed", should do the following three aspects of work: First, targeted to strengthen the employment guidance for college students, for college students looking for jobs to provide comprehensive and effective employment information. The second is to broaden the field of employment for college students, and to attract college students to various types of small and medium-sized enterprises, private enterprises, township enterprises and community employment through various preferential policies. Third, to create a suitable environment for college students to start their own business, encourage capable college students to start their own business, to start their own business to promote employment.
4. Strengthening legal publicity and safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of migrant workers. Conscientiously carry out the implementation of the Labor Contract Law, in strengthening labor law enforcement and supervision, labor dispute regulation and arbitration work, but also to increase the concentration of rural migrant workers in the industry enterprises of the legal propaganda efforts to enhance the legal concepts of rural migrant workers and awareness of their rights, to increase the rate of rural migrant workers labor contract signing, and to promote the lawful use of labor.
5, improve the construction of labor market, strengthen the function of employment services. Further strengthen the construction of labor market information, standardize the system of labor information release, and establish a good information dissemination mechanism. Strengthen the government's public **** service function to promote employment, co-ordinate and do a good job in the stable employment of enterprise workers, employment of college graduates, unemployed re-employment, migrant workers mobile employment and demobilized military personnel resettlement and employment of all types of groups of employment services, to achieve a reasonable allocation of labor resources.