Bulletin Autumn‧Winter 2000

Greater Demand for Educated Manpower The Shenzhen workforce has attained a much higher education level than the general population in mainland China, with employees in the non-state sector being more eduated than those in the state sector. This indicates that, in a rapidly developing economy, particularly in the non-state sector, the workplace demands and has been able t oattract highly educated manpower. And this deman d for educated labour increases as economic developmen t progresses rapidly. The survey o nenterprises reveals that a significant proportion o fsenior and intermediate management staff, engineers and senior technicians are recruited from Hong Kong. This means that there is ample employment opportunity in the non-state sector of South China for educated and skilled manpowe r from Hong Kong. In a broader sense, this flow of human capital from Hong Kong t o South China is an example of the economic cooperation and integration betwee n the two regions. The Changing Role of Schools in the Labour Market The recruitment of labour by enterprises depends on applicatio n by individuals and recommendation from schools, two equally important channels, both of which r e q u i r e c omp r e h e n s i ve information about the labour market. This implies that schools hav e t o c h a n ge their f u n c t i o n s f r om assigning jobs to providing career guidance an d counselling for their students. The Need to Develop Indigenous Capabilities The rapid economic development i n South China has attracted educated labour easily from all parts of China. Consequently, the development of education in the local areas i s not seen a surgent and necessary . In fact, education has not expanded i n proportion to economic development. The building up o£ indigenous capabilities through educational expansion is an important issue in areas with an ample supply of educated manpower from the outside. (6) Spread of the Shenzhen Experience The majority of workers in Shenzhen are closely connected with their hometowns and villages. Through them, the development experience of Shenzhen is spread to the rest of China. Other than money capita l and technology, Shenzhen's impact also includes huma n resources, i.e. employees who have been exposed for years to the development of a market economy as well as an open door policy. Shenzhen's mediating functio n is expected to intensify wit h the rise in the educational level of its labour force. On another front, senior secondary students in Shenzhen are observed to be highly aware and receptive of the changes in society: they are willing to take the initiative to CHINES E UNIVERSIT Y BULLETI N Autumn . Winter 2000 4 0