BIZCHINA / Review & Analysis |
Training the unskilled key to full employmentBy Hu Shaowei (China Daily)Updated: 2007-06-07 13:34 Fourth, small- and medium-sized monetary institutions should be developed, especially small- and medium-sized regional banks. These banks are meant to make loans to small- and medium-sized businesses, which combine to employ the majority of the labor force. In the United States, for instance, the 20 million small- and medium-sized businesses provided 60 percent of the jobs in the service sector and 50 percent in manufacturing. In Japan, employees in small- and medium-sized businesses account for 78 percent of the total. In the European Union, employment opportunities created by small- and mid-sized businesses make up 70 percent of the total. Fifth, employment should be promoted in diverse ways through multiple channels. In the face of increasing employment pressure, the industrial policy should not exclusively tilt toward high-tech sectors. Support should be given to labor-intensive businesses. In terms of the enterprise size, development loans should be made to small- and medium-sized enterprises, not just to giant enterprises. In terms of ownership, privately owned businesses should be nurtured and promoted. Also, the forms of employment should be diversified - odd-time jobs, seasonal jobs and flexible working hours. Finally, disadvantaged people should get training so that they are prepared for employment when opportunities arise.
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