Recruiting in China

THE search is on for people with vocational skills to enter a citywide contest next year covering 180 professions, ranging from car repairs to Web-page design.

Ninety-six winners of last year's contest stepped up yesterday to receive their awards, according to the Shanghai Labor and Social Security Bureau.

Nearly 9,000 people signed up to take part in last year's contest, including digital machine operators, fashion designers and hairdressers.

"About 80 percent of the participants were workers in enterprises, and most of them are working in the front line," said Zhu Yanmin, an official in the Shanghai Vocational Skill Testing Center, which sponsored the contest.

"But there is a trend for more university students to take part in the contest, as they realize the importance of raising their vocational abilities," Zhu said.

Nearly 4,000 participants who were identified as qualified in the contest have been granted professional qualification certificates by the Shanghai Labor and Social Security Bureau, without having to sit a qualification exam.

Xuhui District won the gold medal yesterday for organizing 1,191 participants, with 14 people making the top three places in the contest's final round.

Workers in enterprises, students and the unemployed in the city can sign up for the competition.

"We also encourage foreigners in the city to participate in the contest, but there were none having yet registered," said Zhu.

Participants can sign up for next year's preliminary contest at their local vocational training centers.