CHINA: Some universities 'fudge' student jobs data

Some Chinese universities have inflated graduate employment figures by issuing bogus work contracts as millions struggle to find work amid the downturn, an official newspaper said last Tuesday, reports Reuters. The financial crisis has intensified the problem of graduate unemployment, which stems from rapidly increasing enrolment at Chinese universities, many of which fail to adequately train their graduates.

If widespread, this could cast doubt on recent official reports that graduate unemployment has now substantially eased, with an estimated 6.1 million new graduates in China this year. China's leaders fear widespread disillusionment amongst youngsters could spark unrest.

The China Daily said some universities, particularly second tier ones, had been "faking" work contracts or employment agreements for graduates to fudge employment rates and deliver satisfactory performance reports to officials. In internet chatrooms such as Tianya (www.tianya.cn), recent postings by graduates suggest the problem exists in provinces across China including Guangdong, Hubei, Zhejiang and Shaanxi.
Full report on the Reuters site