Skills to match jobs

A shortage of labor is becoming an increasingly common headache in the coastal provinces. The latest figures show that Guangzhou, Guangdong province, traditionally one of the country's main manufacturing centers, might face a shortage of up to 123,300 workers this year.

However, a 21st Century Business Herald editorial says the labor shortage is an unavoidable trend arising from the country's ongoing urbanization, and it advocates industrial upgrading and better training for workers so they are a better match for the jobs available as the country moves up the industrial value chain.

A major part of the labor force that has left the coastal factories now work in the inland areas, where fast urbanization is creating lots of jobs in the service sector. The better working conditions and similar salaries that are offered in places that are nearer their hometowns make these jobs more attractive than distant manufacturing jobs that feature hard, repetitive manual tasks.