Many graduates found pessimistic about finding jobs

This article was published by the Taiwan Headlines on April 20, 2006. It reports that according to a recent survey conducted by the Career magazine, about 50 percent of new graduates in Taiwan think that jobs are harder to find than expected. A similar percentage of the graduates are considering joining professions that are different from their fields of training.

More than 2,300 students who are set to graduate in June 2006 participated in the survey. Among them, 60 percent of senior high school graduates think that jobs are harder to find than expected. About 40 percent of master's graduates share this view.

About 50 percent of the graduates expect their starting salaries to range between NT$24,000 and NT$30,000. Those who have a master's degree expect NT$36,000 on average, while those who have a bachelor's degree expect no more than NT$30,000. Those who have a technical college diploma expect no more than NT$28,000.

According to the Career magazine, the starting salaries expected by the graduates are about NT$2,000 to NT$4,000 higher than market levels.

Meanwhile, 47 percent of the graduates said that they are thinking about entering professions that are different from their fields of training, with master's graduates registering the lowest ratio of 34 percent. Results of the survey show that graduates from the fields of tourism and leisure, agriculture and education have the strongest desire to switch professions. In contrast, graduates from the fields of art and design, mass communications and science and technology have the least desire to do so.

Furthermore, according to results of the survey, 40 percent of the respondents said that they will further their studies in Taiwan if their job search is unsuccessful. Approximately 20 percent of the respondents said that they will further their studies overseas.

According to results of the survey, graduates of private schools and technical colleges have the strongest motivation to advance their education or to acquire a second expertise. In terms of disciplines, graduates from the field of education have the highest motivation to further their studies, while those from the field of tourism and leisure have the least motivation to do so.

Finally, according to results of the survey, graduates from the field of arts and communications would prefer to further their studies overseas. In contrast, graduates from the field of science and technology would prefer to do so in Taiwan.