Ministry promotes online recruitment, suspends campus job fairs

The Ministry of Education will promote online employment services and suspend campus job fairs for college graduates to avoid large gatherings of people during the ongoing novel coronavirus epidemic, a ministry official said on Wednesday.

The ministry's employment platforms will share job information with those of provinces, universities and recruitment services and jointly offer online employment services, said Wang Hui, director of the ministry's Department of College Students Affairs.

The ministry will strictly review employer and recruitment information posted online to ensure it is true, and promote online interviews, signing of contracts and employment procedures at universities across the country, Wang said.

Springtime recruitment is one of the most important opportunities for graduates seeking jobs. About 8.74 million college students will graduate from ordinary colleges and universities around China this year, 400,000 more than last year.

College graduates are expected to face a more complicated employment situation in the first half of this year, Wang said.

Platforms for cooperation between universities and enterprises will be established to better match supply and demand for talent in key areas, major projects and important fields.

Wang said the ministry will also seek more cooperation with enterprises in integrating the real economy with the internet, big data and artificial intelligence.

Universities are also being asked to provide one-to-one assistance for students from poor families and students with disabilities, develop online platforms and hotlines for career guidance, and provide psychological counseling for graduates.