OVER 20,000 would-be college graduates holding the Guangzhou hukou waited for hours in the rain to register for a talent fair Saturday, the Guangzhou Daily reported.

More than 400 organizations attended the fair, offering nearly 8,000 openings.

The recruiting organizations were mainly in the fields of logistics, auto manufacturing, IT and hospitality. Most vacancies required a college degree, with 38 percent asking for a junior college degree, and 10 percent seeking postgraduates. Science and engineering majors were in demand at the fair, making up 70 percent of the total need. Marketing, customer service, computers, finance, electronics and mechanical design were especially sought-after, according to the newspaper.

The number of college graduates in Guangzhou in 2006 is estimated to amount to 50,000, while the total number of college graduates looking for jobs in Guangdong Province this year would exceed 400,000, the newspaper said.

The most popular booth at the fair was an IT firm founded by 11 college graduates this year, with an investment of one million yuan (US$120,400). Nearly 100 resumes were submitted to the firm.

According to the 11 founders, the initial investment was mainly from their families. Though the firm had not made any money since its founding last October, the shareholders believed they had a promising future.

More talent fairs would be held, according to the newspaper. For instance, the China Southern Talent Market plans to host 52 fairs continuously.

Editor: Wing