Does family background affect job allocation for college graduates in China?

Abstract

[EN] Based on large-scale national survey data on college graduates employment in China, this paper explores the impact of family background on job allocation, through both descriptive and regression analyses. The result shows as follows. Firstly, family occupational, educational and regional status are significant influential factors. College graduates with better family occupational and educational background, living in big/medium cities have more chances to enter Emerging Industry, Monopoly Industry, Government Industry and SECH Industry. Secondly, College graduates with better family occupational and educational background, living in big/medium cities have more chances to enter Governments Sector and State-Owned Enterprise. Better family educational background may help college graduates enter Foreign-Invested Enterprise. Since the difference between the primary and secondary labor market is very large, the finding that college graduates with better family socio-economic background have more chances to enter primary labor market reveals an unfair competition in China.