Effects of economic considerations and individual modernity on the career aspiration of college students under economic transition in China

Since the late 1970s, China has been undergoing economic transition from a planned economy to a market economy. With the gradual introduction of the market economy, the non-state sector has emerged so that the non-state sector and state sector now coexists in China, and a system of free career choice for college graduates has basically been established. Although college students now have more choices open to them, there has been graduate unemployment in recent years. Studies have shown unemployment was related to employment aspiration of the graduates.; This study aims to investigate the factors that influence the employment aspirations of college graduates from the individual perspective.; The data used in this study originate from the "Chinese Mainland undergraduate Student Survey" conducted by a research team in 1998.; The empirical evidence suggests that: (1) Compared with the percentage of students who chose employment from the non-state sector (36.6%), the percentage of students who chose employment in the state sector was very high (63.4%). (2) The college students' future employment choices were varied and diverse. The most popular work was in state institutions. (3) In both the state sector and non-state sector, there were significant differences in the percentage of students choosing different kinds of employment. (4) Expected economic returns affected the college students' future career choices, in terms of the expectation of level of economic benefit, stability and the amount of time before the economic benefit could be realized. (5) The students' individual modernity had different effects on their employment choices.; In addition, the students' family background (i.e. whether they were from urban or rural regions) also influenced their employment choices.; Demands of human resource in both state and non-state sectors should be met in economic transition in China. The study results suggest that: (1) it is necessary to abolish the separation of labor market so that the systemic obstacles of labor migration can be eliminated; (2) the non-state sector needs to be supplied with specialized human capital in order for it to continue its development; (3) equality of higher education opportunity should be emphasized, so that more opportunity of higher education should be provided for rural children, which enable them to learn the attitudes and values required in an industrialized society and in a market economy, and thus promoting social mobility. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...