Dilemmas concerning the employment of university graduates in China

The employment of college graduates has always been the focus issue of the whole society. Affected by the COVID-19, college graduates are facing a severe employment situation. In the present study, we explore the impacts of the COVID-19 on the employment of college graduates. We explore the employment promotion measures introduced by Chinese government and colleges and universities through a quick review and illustrate the difficulties that college graduates face. Furthermore, the present study explores the impacts of the COVID-19 on five aspects of the employment of college graduates: recruitment demand reduce, employment competition rise, employment channels change, psychological anxiety increase and employment structural contradiction intensify. In addition, we conclude that the employment promotion measures introduced by Chinese government and colleges and universities in respond to the impacts of the COVID-19 on the employment of college graduates have significantly promoted the employment of college graduates to a large extent and we provide implications based on the application of the study. The findings of the present study are of great significance for all countries worldwide to better cope with various similar emergency events, to alleviate employment pressure and to promote better and fuller employment of college graduates.

With the enlargement of graduate flexible employment, its category and characteristics have also diversified. Therefore, it is of great importance to optimize and improve relevant policies, social security and educational propaganda to promote the flexible employment of university graduates.

As an important part of human resources, college graduates are the most vigorous, energetic, and creative group in society. The employment of college graduates is not only related to the vital interests of graduates themselves and the general public, but also related to the sustainable and healthy development of higher education and the country’s prosperity through science and education. However, the outbreak of COVID-19 at the end of 2019 has left China’s domestic labor and employment market in severe condition, which has a significant impact on the employment of college graduates. Based on the situation, the Chinese government has formulated a series of employment promotion policies for college graduates in accordance with local conditions to solve the current difficulties in employment of college graduates during the COVID-19Pandemic. Do these policies meet the expectations of the people? Is the policy implementation process reasonable? All these issues need to be tested and clarified urgently. This paper takes the employment promotion policy of college graduates under the COVID-19 as the research object, uses the PMC index model to screen the policy texts, obtains two perfect policy texts, and uses the Weibo comments to construct the evaluation model of policy measures support degree to analyze the social effects of employment promotion policies for college graduates. The results show that the public’s support degree with the employment promotion policies for college graduates under COVID-19 needs to be improved. Among them, the public has a neutral attitude towards position measures and transference measures but is obviously dissatisfied with subsidy measures and channel measures. Finally, suggestions for improving policy are given to make the employment policy in line with public opinion and effectively relieve the job hunting pressure of college graduates.

The COVID-19 epidemic has brought a huge impact on the employment of college graduates. Employment pressure has become the main factor inducing psychological problems for college graduates [1]. The graduating students in the critical period are prone to psychological confusion and bad mentality. This will not only affect the employment and life of college graduates, but also cause various social problems. Therefore, it is very important to adjust the employment psychology of college graduates. This paper analyzes the employment situation and the psychological performance of college graduates after the COVID-19 epidemic in the face of employment pressure, and proposes corresponding countermeasures to ease the employment pressure in this situation.

Introduction. In the context of socio-economic changes in the world, reflecting significant transformations in the field of labor and youth employment, the demand for optimal employment of university graduates as a significant indicator of the quality of professional training of young specialists and replenishment of the labor market with a qualified labor force that ensures the implementation of progressive development goals of the world community is actualized. At the same time, universities pay insufficient attention to socio-pedagogical assistance to the employment of graduates and its strategies that increase the effectiveness of the first entry of young people into labor activity, their adaptation opportunities and competitive advantages in the labor market. Purpose of the article: the purpose of the article: to develop and experimentally test strategies for socio-pedagogical assistance to the employment of university graduates. Research methods. The experiment was attended by 448 senior students of Russian universities. A set of valid diagnostic methods was used to determine the level of formation of a culture of employment of students as a result of the implementation of strategies: a test conversation to identify complex knowledge about productive employment; survey in the field of professional plans and readiness for upcoming employment; self-monitoring questionnaire; methodology for studying the motivation of a professional career; self-efficacy scale; methodology for assessing career orientations; methodology for studying the need for self-development; methodology for assessing self-presentation skills. The validity of the obtained data was tested using Pearson χ2 criteria. Results. As a result of the development and implementation of a set of strategies for socio-pedagogical assistance to the employment of university graduates in the experimental group, a significant increase in the level of formation of the culture of employment of students was recorded (χ2 emp = 17.584) compared to students of the control group who did not show positive dynamics in the level of measured professional and personal characteristics (χ2 emp = 0.238) during experimental work. The data suggest a positive increase in high and medium levels of student employment culture. Discussion and conclusion. It was revealed that the use of strategies of social and pedagogical assistance to the employment of university graduates (updating the professional and personal potential of young specialists; sociopedagogical orientation of students to successful self-presentation; activating professional self-determination and the right to choose; scaffolding) determines the effectiveness of the formation of a culture of employment for students and sets a benchmark for increasing their competitiveness in the labor market.

Data obtained in a 2016 survey of college and vocational school graduates produced in 2010–2015 is used to analyze the characteristics of entry-level jobs and labor market outcomes separately for graduates in higher education and vocational training (the latter featuring mid-level specialist programs and skilled-worker programs). Graduates who combined work and study tend to enjoy a competitive advantage in the labor market, the effect being the strongest for college graduates and the weakest for skilled workers. Most graduates found their first jobs rather quickly, mainly with the help of their immediate community, whereas institutions were found to play a very insignificant role in graduate employment. Supply and demand imbalance in the labor market results in about two thirds of college graduates and two fifths of vocational school graduates being mismatched to their jobs. Over one third of college graduates and over two fifths of mid-level specialists found themselves overeducated in their first jobs. Among the employed graduates of skilled-worker programs, 63% were employed as skilled workers, clerks, service and retail sale workers, i. e. their entry-level jobs were well-matched to their level of qualifications.Employment is higher among vocational graduates of both types and significantly higher among college graduates than the national average. Graduates in higher education also demonstrate the lowest unemployment rate.

Socio-economic and socio-cultural changes in society lead to significant changes in the social struc- ture of society, in the institute of education. The employment of university graduates, in general, acquires the features of a new social process after the refusal of compulsory employment. The recognized social fact has led to the emergence of new statuses (for example, mixed), where university graduates, unemployed or not working in their specialty are often found. The interest of many sociologists in this problem is associated with changes in the work of social institutions, including the Institute of Education. The purpose of the study: to determine the employment strategy of graduates of Kazakhstani universi- ties in the context of regional specifics. This research on this issue is based on the importance of such concepts as contradictions between qualification programs, teaching methods, graduate competencies and employers’ requirements for these competencies and qualifications; inconsistency of the theory and practice being studied; definition and justification of the main strategies for the employment of university graduates. To achieve the goal, the researchers used descriptive data analysis and a quantitative approach as the main means of collecting research data. The study was applied to a sample of 130 heads of organizations. Based on a comparative analysis, the above problems and shortcomings in the professional training of graduates of Kazakhstani universities have been identified and analyzed. In the course of the study, the authors identified market, paternalistic and traditional strategies among gradu- ates in accordance with the specifics of the labor market. The scientific results obtained on the basis of theoretical and empirical research can be used by scientists studying the problems of employment and unemployment, graduate employment strategies, organizations engaged in youth employment, career centers in higher education institutions, employment centers at the state and regional levels. Key words: university graduates, employers, labor strategies, labor market regulation, quality of education.

This research focuses on the employment choice issues of college graduates under the background of the rural revitalization strategy. With the in-depth implementation of the rural revitalization strategy, the rural demand for talents is growing, while college graduates are facing employment pressure in cities. The rural revitalization strategy has rich connotations, and talents play a key role in it. The employment of college graduates shows characteristics such as a cold supply and hot demand, and seeking stability in job hunting. Urban-rural differences have a significant impact on their employment. Personal, family, and social factors affect the rural employment choices of college graduates. Under rural revitalization, college graduates can return to their hometowns to serve as village cadres, rural teachers, or start businesses, but they also face challenges such as insufficient demand for jobs, constraints of public opinion, and backward infrastructure. To promote the rural employment of college graduates, the government should strengthen policy guidance and provide support for employment and entrepreneurship; improve the education and training system to enhance the employment ability of graduates; strengthen the construction of social service systems and improve the rural living environment. Future research can focus on the relationship between rural industrial development and the employment of college graduates, the psychology of graduates in rural employment, diversified rural employment models, and the interaction between rural cultural construction and employment.

The study of the labor market in the Republic of Tyva is a planned work of the research laboratory “Research of the labor market” at the Faculty of Economics of the Tuva State University. The main objective of the laboratory is to analyze the demanded professions requiring higher education in the Republic of Tyva for the employment of university graduates, taking into account the scope of their activities. The purpose of this study is to analyze the professions in demand in Russia and the Republic of Tyva. The results of many years of work on the employment of graduate students of Tuva State University, observation and comparison of the needs of republican employers during meetings related to the employment of university graduates, analysis of statistical materials of the Ministry of Labor of Russia, All-Russian Research Institute of Labor of the Ministry of Labor of Russia, the All-Russian database of vacancies and resumes were used as research sources. “Employment in Russia”, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy of the Republic of Tuva and other open sources providing a reliable assessment of the ongoing processes in the Russian and regional labor market. The novelty of the study lies in the definition of practical recommendations for the employment of graduates of secondary and higher educational institutions, when in modern conditions in the country the labor market is dynamically changing in accordance with external and internal factors. The results of the study represent an analysis of professions in demand that are of interest to specialists in the field of education, economics, sociology, and psychology.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative technology in multiple areas, including the labor market. Its incorporation into organizations redefines professional profiles, required skills, and employability conditions. In this context, it is essential to understand how university graduates are preparing to face these changes and what role their AI skills play in their integration into the workforce. The study aimed to analyze the level of AI skills and their impact on the employability of university graduates through a quantitative and descriptive design. A survey was conducted with a sample of 148 undergraduate and graduate graduates. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and visualized using graphs. The results indicated that graduates who report greater knowledge and more frequent use of AI tools, especially generative ones such as ChatGPT, are more likely to be employed in areas related to their majors and to perceive higher productivity and better professional alignment. However, a generational gap in digital skills was also identified, as well as a widespread feeling of insufficient preparation for the challenges of the current labor market. The conclusion is that AI skills are consolidating as a key differentiating factor in employability and that their formal incorporation into university curricula is urgently needed. The implications of the study point to the need for an educational transformation that integrates AI as a transversal skill, promotes ongoing teacher training, and fosters policies that guarantee inclusive education aligned with the challenges of the digital age.

En los últimos años, el fomento de la empleabilidad y la adquisición de competencias se ha convertido en una de las prioridades de las universidades en el marco del Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior. Esto ha supuesto un nuevo impulso para afrontar las crecientes dificultades relacionadas con la inserción laboral de los titulados y los desajustes entre la formación recibida y los requisitos de los puestos de trabajo. En el nuevo paradigma educativo, las competencias se han convertido en la referencia a partir de la cual se organiza, planifica y evalúa el aprendizaje, y las agencias de calidad encargadas de evaluar los planes de estudio han introducido nuevos criterios ligados a la empleabilidad y la inserción laboral. Sin embargo, en España la información sobre muchos de estos temas es insuficiente, especialmente en cuanto a las competencias que se necesitan a lo largo de la vida laboral y la aportación de la universidad en su adquisición, los factores que determinan el acceso al empleo y la estabilidad laboral, la satisfacción con el trabajo y con la formación recibida, la idoneidad de las metodologías educativas utilizadas, o los desajustes entre la educación y el empleo. Con esta finalidad, en el año 2012 se creó el Observatorio de Empleabilidad y Empleo Universitarios. El objetivo de este artículo es la presentación de los resultados de esta iniciativa sistémica de política universitaria encaminada al seguimiento y a la medición de la empleabilidad y el empleo de los universitarios en España.

The article deals with the most pressing problems in inclusive higher education, the most significant among which is the employment of university graduates with disabilities. The purpose of the study is to study the problem of employment of university graduates with disabilities from the positions of all stakeholders: the employer, the graduate himself and the educational organization of higher education. The following research methods are used: secondary analysis of data from Russian and foreign studies, as well as methods of collecting primary information: a survey of representatives of employers, as well as students and graduates with disabilities (in the form of a questionnaire). As a result of the study, the real readiness of Russian employers to expand opportunities for interaction on vocational training and employment was revealed, but with a high degree of concern about the existing formal difficulties of employment. Among the main barriers to employment of university graduates with disabilities, the low legal literacy of employers and the prevailing stereotypes about the lack of real knowledge and skills among graduates with disabilities are noted.

Purpose of research. Currently, the employment of university graduates is not only a problem for graduates, but also a problem for the higher education institutions themselves. The demand for specialists in the labor market is considered an indicator of the quality of education and ensures the rating of the university. The need for specialists in the labor market is great, but it is not always possible to meet the demands of enterprises, despite the fact that universities annually graduate hundreds of graduates. This contradiction arises due to the lack of direct interaction between graduates and employers. This contradiction can be resolved by using a specialized multifunctional online platform, which allows you to establish a process of monitoring the employment of graduates and establish direct interaction between university career centers, graduates and employers. The paper considers an approach to creating a multifunctional online platform that can effectively facilitate the employ- ment of university graduates.. Methods. In creating the project development, methods of system analysis, methods of designing software tools, the unified language Unified Modeling Language, SQLServer DBMS, JavaScript development environment, Node.js, Vue.js were used. Results. During the project, software was developed for a multifunctional online platform that ensures direct interaction between the university’s career centers, graduates and employers. Conclusion. The developed specialized multifunctional online platform has separate offices: for the university, for the employer, for the graduate, allows to establish the process of monitoring the employment of graduates and establish direct interaction between the university career centers, graduates and employers. The system is completely ready for use, and will contribute to the formation of a digital career environment of the university.

Employability refers to the process of gaining initial employment, maintaining employment, and successfully obtaining new employment if required. In simple terms, employability is about being capable of obtaining and keeping fulfilling work. Employability is having a set of skills, including knowledge, understanding, and personal attributes that make a person more likely to choose and secure occupations in which they can be satisfied and successful. Employability depends on knowledge (what you know), skills (what you do with what you know), and attitudes (how you approach things). In higher education, the employment of university graduates is influenced by many factors including institutional ranking, image, branding, and program structure. Therefore, university reputation in specific programs is important and affects the employability of graduates directly.
 In a recent paper by the corresponding author, we argued that university branding is critical for developing a favorable image and impacts one’s identity formation and promotion substantially, thus differentiating and placing one in a highly competitive context. In this paper, we will investigate the factors that influence employability among university graduates and determine which ones can affect the overall graduate employability of university graduates in Egypt. These factors include academic branding, academic performance, technical skills, communication skills, personality, leadership and motivational skills, and teamwork and problem-solving skills, taken as independent variables, while overall graduate employability was considered the dependent variable. In addition, we consider the impact of the university’s reputation on graduate employability.
 Survey methods were used on 500 graduates and undergraduates (fourth level) from different Egyptian universities who have not yet performed employability behavior, chosen at random, by using exploratory factor analysis to validate the items under those independent variables and structural equation modeling with AMOS to test the hypothesized relationship between the independent variables and the dependent variable. The questionnaire had 20 questions, including demographic inquiries and questions about the abovementioned topics. The findings of this study can help scholars further investigate the employability aspects and guide fresh graduates in acquiring the required employability skills while assisting companies in recruiting suitable people with the required skills and performance.

In recent years, two tasks remain unresolved in our country: the first is the employment of all university graduates to work in legal entities, and the second is the timely and proper execution of the established form of Employment Agreements with “working” university graduates, with their subsequent registration on the Enbek website. Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Kazakhstan. According to the information of the Office of the Committee of Legal Statistics under the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2023, the level of employment of university graduates in legal entities, with the subsequent conclusion of employment contracts with them, with their subsequent registration on the Enbek website of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Kazakhstan was – 70 %.