University of Hong Kong optimistic about undergraduate employment

Herman Chan is interviewed by reporters. (Xinhua/Li Mengge)

An annual survey conducted by the University of Hong Kong shows its undergraduates employment rate reached 99.7 percent in 2012.

The average gross monthly salary went up by 6.8 percent from $2011 to $ the same year, according to the findings of the undergraduate employment situation released earlier this week.

Commerce and industry remains the largest employer, which absorbs 60% of the undergraduates. Within this sector, the greatest increase in salary was in the insurance up 14.6 percent, trading/marketing/retailing up 9.1 percent and construction industries up 8 percent. However, finance as a whole has reduced their full time recruitment by 2.5 percent.

About 3,500 graduates responded to the questionnaire designed by Hong Kong University.

As for the choice of graduates in terms of salary, the range between HK$10,000- HK$14,999 takes up the largest part. But more graduates entered higher paid jobs ranging $25000-$29999 up 4.0 percent, this year.

The majority of the graduates experienced good job satisfaction, with 85% of them was either “satisfied or “very satisfied with their jobs.

Herman Chan, HKU Director of Careers and Placement said that overseas employment markets were expanded. More corporations in mainland China’s mainland and Japanese hire graduates from HKU with good international exposure and language skills.