The toy factories of southern China's industrial provinces cannot find sufficient numbers of workers to make the goods needed for the Christmas market, as the recovery in the Chinese economy translates into higher employment.
News of a "worker drought" come just months after riots by laid-off workers outside those same factories, angry at losing their jobs as foreign orders dried up.
The change of direction in the Chinese job market has been spectacular, and there are dissenting voices in China which doubt the true extent of the turnaround.
One stumbling block to China's toy industry has been its frosty relationship with India, one of the country's chief trading partners, which banned imports of several types of toys from China for six months early this year "in the public interest". The act was considered a sign of growing protectionism, as the impact of the financial downturn continues to be felt.
On a grander scale, 22 million migrant workers lost their jobs late last year, as 20 million of China's 130 million rural migrant workers returned home because of the economic slowdown and the collapse of the export market.
The situation has improved after the government's 4 trillion yuan (Dh2.15tn) stimulus plan, measures to relieve the pressure on companies that formerly survived on exports, and massive lending by the country's state-owned banks.
A report on human resources by the Zhejiang provincial government showed 603,000 vacancies but only 354,000 job seekers. Shenzhen reported a shortage of 23,000 workers in April this year, even though the unemployment situation there at the start of the year was severe, with the shortage rising to 60,000 vacancies in June.
A survey by the toy association of Guangdong province revealed that toy makers were showing a labour shortfall of between 10 and 30 per cent, with some companies down to just 50 per cent of the workers they needed.
Zhang Xiulan, the chief of the School of Social Development and Public Policy at Beijing Normal University, told the China Daily newspaper: "The situation is getting better due to the package of governmental policies to stimulate the economy.
"Many factories in the coastal region have recovered and received more orders, particularly the export-oriented enterprises in Wenzhou and Shenzhen."
The labour ministry hopes to keep the urban unemployment rate below 4.6 per cent this year, which, while better than many other countries around the world, would still be the highest since 1980.
However, there are plenty of sceptical voices online about the upturn in the labour market.
"For as long as I can remember, our great country's unemployment rate is always 4 per cent," one web commentator, "Qing Shou", said, while "Micky Pig" wrote: "Our country's unemployment rate is based on the urban population! They don't pay attention to peasants, even though they are starved to death."
Massive infrastructure projects as part of the government's stimulus spending have provided work in rural parts of the country, as well as the cities. Money from the stimulus plan is also helping to kick-start the property sector, which also boosts employment.
At the same time, China's state-controlled banks have been lending at a furious rate, pumping Dh645 billion in extra lending to Chinese consumers and businesses in the first seven months of this year. A record number of cars are being sold, industrial output is picking up and orders appear to be stabilising.
This is crucial, as many of the job losses late last year and early this year were inspired by the collapse in order books, prompted by the reversal in overseas contracts.
Exports remain in the mire: government data shows that demand for Christmas products produced in Guangdong province from January to September have fallen by 46.3 per cent compared with the same period last year.
What orders that are coming through are short-term orders, and it is difficult to get migrant labour to return from the countryside to take up casual work that may be only a short-term option.
To fight the downturn in exports, the government has given huge tax breaks to exporters and brought in other measures to curb the effect of lower trade, including keeping the value of the yuan low to keep Chinese goods competitive, and introducing various restrictions on imports.
Even if China meets its economic growth target of 8 per cent this year, as is widely expected, this is unlikely to result in more jobs this year, and up to 12 million may not find work, said Yin Weimin, the minister of human resources and social security.
Mr Yin said China would be able to provide openings for about half of its 24 million job hunters, if it met the growth target for this year. A much hoped-for increase in the number of service-sector jobs has not materialised.
Ministry statistics show 6.6 million people in urban areas found jobs between January and July, three quarters of the target of 9 million jobs during the period.
Mr Yin told the People's Daily: "The shortfall between supply and demand [in employment] will become larger than last year due to the failure to create enough job opportunities."
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows that 151 million migrant workers, who mostly work in factories or on building sites, were employed outside their hometowns at the end of June, up 2.6 per cent from the first quarter figure. By the end of June, 4.2 million rural migrant workers were still unemployed outside their hometowns.
One web commentator warned: "Chinese people value family relationships. If a husband or wife is jobless, he or she could stay at home and look after children. Or they could rely on parents for living. But when the balance is broken, the society will be very unstable."
business@thenational.ae
UAE v Zimbabwe A, 50 over series
Fixtures
Thursday, Nov 9 - 9.30am, ICC Academy, Dubai
Saturday, Nov 11 – 9.30am, ICC Academy, Dubai
Monday, Nov 13 – 2pm, Dubai International Stadium
Thursday, Nov 16 – 2pm, ICC Academy, Dubai
Saturday, Nov 18 – 9.30am, ICC Academy, Dubai
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
RACE CARD
4pm Al Bastakiya – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
4.35pm Dubai City Of Gold – Group 2 (TB) $228,000 (Turf) 2,410m
5.10pm Mahab Al Shimaal – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,200m
5.45pm Burj Nahaar – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,600m
6.20pm Jebel Hatta – Group 1 (TB) $260,000 (T) 1,800m
6.55pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (TB) $390,000 (D) 2,000m
7.30pm Nad Al Sheba – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (T) 1,200m
MATCH INFO
English Premiership semi-finals
Saracens 57
Wasps 33
Exeter Chiefs 36
Newcastle Falcons 5
Ultra processed foods
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
The biog
Age: 35
Inspiration: Wife and kids
Favourite book: Changes all the time but my new favourite is Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Best Travel Destination: Bora Bora , French Polynesia
Favourite run: Jabel Hafeet, I also enjoy running the 30km loop in Al Wathba cycling track
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
THE BIO
Age: 30
Favourite book: The Power of Habit
Favourite quote: "The world is full of good people, if you cannot find one, be one"
Favourite exercise: The snatch
Favourite colour: Blue
LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last 16, first leg
Tottenham Hotspur v Borussia Dortmund, midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports
Seven tips from Emirates NBD
1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet
3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately
AUSTRALIA SQUADS
ODI squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa
Twenty20 squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa
If you go...
Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).
Company%20profile
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Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes
It
Director: Andres Muschietti
Starring: Bill Skarsgard, Jaeden Lieberher, Sophia Lillis, Chosen Jacobs, Jeremy Ray Taylor
Three stars
Last 10 NBA champions
2017: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-1
2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
2015: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-2
2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
Racecard
2pm Handicap Dh 90,000 1,800m
2.30pm Handicap Dh120,000 1,950m
3pm Handicap Dh105,000 1,600m
3.30pm Jebel Ali Classic Conditions Dh300,000 1,400m
4pm Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m
4.30pm Conditions Dh250,000 1,400m
5pm Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m
5.30pm Handicap Dh85,000 1,000m
The National selections:
2pm Arch Gold
2.30pm Conclusion
3pm Al Battar
3.30pm Golden Jaguar
4pm Al Motayar
4.30pm Tapi Sioux
5pm Leadership
5.30pm Dahawi
The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
