Social security is the public's top concern, even more than
employment, according to a survey by the Beijing-based Horizon
Research Consultancy Group.
Over 37.9 percent of the 3,780 surveyed chose social security to
head a list of issues including employment, education, public
transit, health and public security, said the Beijing Evening News
which analyzed the survey results.
Over 50.2 percent of those who participated in the survey said
they do not have any social security or welfare, and only one
percent have a complete set of insurance, including health,
employment and retirement insurance, the paper said.
The survey shows urban residents are satisfied with their social
security conditions, but farmers and migrant workers, who live on
low incomes and have little access to social security, said their
conditions were far from satisfactory.
The survey, titled "A Report on Quality of Life of Residents
in2006", was conducted among 3,780 residents from five cities
including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, and five small cities
and towns in Sichuan, Zhejiang and Liaoning provinces.
The report said the percentage of jobless who are under 35 years
of age has reached 38.1 percent, up three percent on the previous
year.
Sources with the Horizon said the reasons include insufficient
information about job openings, and a lack of vocational training
and job opportunities.
Founded in 1992, the Horizon Research Consultancy Group is a
Beijing-based professional research institute.
(Xinhua News Agency January 11, 2007)