Top labor official hopes more grads go west

China's top labor official Yin Weimin has called on more college graduates to work for China's grass roots in small and medium-sized enterprises and the country's western areas.

"These places need talent and have plenty of job and business opportunities," said Yin, the Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, at a press conference in Beijing at the annual session of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature.

"We will continue to encourage and guide college graduates to go to work for the grass roots, small and medium-sized enterprises and the western areas by a series of supporting policies," he said.

He said four special programs including "graduate village officials" and "western volunteers" have been in operation to encourage college graduates to work in these areas, attracting 200,000 people each year on average.

"These are just some examples and we hope more college graduates are willing to choose this way, because these places need talent."

Yin said they have also taken measures to encourage college graduates to start their own businesses by providing preferable policies including lower tax and proper guidance.

The number of college graduates this year is expected to stand at 6.6 million. About 70 to 75 percent find a job at graduation and the figure will reach more than 90 percent by year-end, Yin said.