"Loyalty to the corporation, a sense of responsibility and teamwork, and the ability to endure pressure were relatively lower than the levels displayed by people born in the 1970s," said Zhang.

Post-80s workers have fewer advantages because of their relative lack of industry experience, client resources, partners, management skills and funding. They have to create their own businesses through market opportunities. As a result, they face greater challenges securing entrepreneurial success, said Zhang.

Chen Xu, vice-president of Zhaopin.com, suggested that young people should be more prudent in assessing and observing business opportunities and be prepared to endure hardship.

"They are better off working for a mature enterprise before starting their own business in order to foster networks and prepare themselves for the world of cutthroat commercial competition," Chen said.

"Investment and fund-raising knowledge and social networks are significant to a successful start-up," he added.

"As the economy is turning for the better, the competition will be naturally more fierce," said Hall, from Kelly Services. "The priority for these post-80s people is to improve and update their professional abilities and skills in accordance with market demands. That is the key to success for a new business.

"For employers, post-80s staff are a very important part of the talent reserve and are directly linked to the development of a company."