As competition for jobs continues to heat up, graduates are even turning to the funeral and interment service sector for work.

Traditionally unpopular, the industry is becoming increasingly in vogue among college graduates in Guangzhou, the capital of South China's Guangdong Province.

The evidence of this was seen at a job fair where nearly 200 college students submitted applications for vacancies with the Guangzhou Funeral and Interment Service Centre (GFISC). There are 17 jobs available.

The job event, launched by GFISC last week, even saw more than 10 postgraduates apply.

After an initial round of tests, 102 college students will go on to the next stage of written exams.

"Job requirements have become higher and higher as we offer a high salary once they are permitted to work here," said Li Guoqing, director of GFISC.

Li said pay for the new jobs would be between 3,000 and 8,000 yuan (US$375-1,000) per month.

It was the largest job event organized by the centre since 1999, Li said.

According to the official, most of the vacancies need someone with a high educational background.

"My family is supporting my application since they know I long to work here," said one applicant surnamed Cheng.

In addition to the high salary, Cheng said the family support is also because of the increasing difficulties graduates face finding a job.

Cheng, who had just finished her studies at the Guangzhou Medical College, is applying for a job helping to "make-up" bodies.

"I have seen lots of dead people during my college studies; I will not be frightened to deal with bodies," Cheng said.

"The centre has always seen a shortage of workers engaged in making-up bodies," Li added.

"Students from medical colleges and those who have had making-up experience are very welcome."

Li called the increasing attention by college students for funeral service jobs a "breakthrough" for the centre.

"Guangzhou has an ever-increasing population, with a variety of religions and cultural backgrounds; this has forced us to enhance our services," Li said.

"Only qualified workers with a high educational background have the potential to deal with this demand."

According to Li, most workers in the funeral industry abroad also need to have a strong educational background.

Li's centre is the only one in the city's urban areas and also a transitional centre for the bodies of foreigners before they are sent back home.

Editor: Yan