Now is traditionally the low season for recruiting migrant workers in the coastal areas where most exported goods are produced. But this year the peak season has continued and some manufacturers have found it hard to find workers.
In a labor market in Zhuhai, a southern coastal city in China, companies are trying to find the migrant workers they need, but very few can get enough.
One recruiter said "We only needed 50 to 60 workers this time last year. But we have hired 100 people this year, and we still need 200 more. "
According to data from Zhuhai's human resource center, labor demand in the city for July and August increased 100 percent over the same period last year. However, the firms got only 20 percent migrant workers they needed.
Chen Xianfeng, Department Director of Zhuhai Human Resources Center said "All of our space has been used and still more is needed."
In Nanjing, east China, migrant workers are also hard to find. They have started to be more picky about which jobs they take.
One migrant worker said "I want to have a better job with a higher salary and free accommodation."
One migrant worker said "I want a job with less hours and a factory that is easy to get to."
Analysts say the new situation in the labor market is a result of more orders for manufacturers. In addition, some migrant workers find it easier and more comfortable to work locally. They are now able to find jobs in their hometowns with salaries they can accept. And so, some manufacturers are starting to transfer some of their production from coastal areas to inland locations.
(CCTV September 8, 2009)
