Money

Car sales boom drives demand for mechanics

By Wang Chao (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-06-08 07:48

Enrollment in automotive vocational and technical institutes have more than doubled over the past five years, thanks to the rapid expansion of the auto industry in Beijing.

Chen Baoqi, vice-president of Beijing Automotive Industry Senior Technical School, said its enrollment hit a record high this year of 1,400 students.

Chen told Beijing Daily the enrollment has been increasing constantly over the past five years and he is confident of the students' competitiveness in the job market.

"For three years in a row, more than 97 percent of our graduates found jobs," Chen said.

"Most earn an salary of between 2,000 and 3,000 yuan a month - a quite decent figure considering their degree."

This compares well with a survey by Zhaopin salary data research center at the end of last year which showed that the average monthly salary for graduates in Beijing is 2,655 yuan.

But auto technicians usually land jobs easily, compared with many college graduates who have to distribute hundreds of rsums to find work.

Experienced technicians are also becoming increasingly well-paid. Senior technicians with certificates, for example, can command salaries from 6,000 yuan.

"Yes, we are willing to offer a decent salary for technicians who possess good auto skills," said Jack Lin, general manager of a Mercedes-Benz 4S store in Haidian district.

Lin, who has been in the business for more than 10 years, said it is now difficult to find qualified technicians.

"Qualified technicians are always welcome here," he said.

Beijing's auto industry has been booming.

Last year, Beiqi Foton Motor Co Ltd, the largest auto manufacturer in Beijing, achieved a production and sales record of 1.2 million cars, earning 116.6 billion yuan.

"We doubled our sales over the past five years," said a PR staff member of Beiqi Foton surnamed Zhao.

"Over that period, we recruited another 20,000 people because of our booming business."