XN000022-1976-02-02 — Page 2

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1976

COMMENTING ON THE APPARENTLY LOW SUCCESS RATE, MR. HO SAID: +COMPETITION HAS ALWAYS BEEN KEEN IN THE JOB MARKET, AND APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN NOT ONLY TO THOSE GRADUATES INTRODUCED THROUGH THE SERVICE. IN CERTAIN CASES EMPLOYERS PREFERRED THOSE WITH EXPERIENCE TO FRESH GRADUATES.+

+ONE OTHER REASON IS THE RECESSION WHICH HAS REDUCED

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSEQUENTLY THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE NEW VACANCIES IN TRADE AND INDUSTRY, HE SAID.

HOWEVER MR. HO WAS OPTIMISTIC THAT THE SITUATION WOULD TAKE A TURN FOR THE BETTER THIS YEAR AND THAT MORE OPPORTUNITIES WOULD LIKELY BE CREATED FOR GRADUATES.

HE ALSO PREDICTED THAT BETTER TIMES WOULD COME IN MARCH AND APRIL. +THIS IS BECAUSE MANY FIRMS AND INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS WISH TO ATTRACT THE BETTER CANDIDATES BEFORE OTHERS HAVE GRABBED THEM ON THE EMPLOYMENT MARKET.+

THE FACT THAT NEARLY 700 GRADUATES ARE STILL ON THE SPECIAL REGISTER DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THEY ARE ALL UNEMPLOYED.

+MANY OF THEM HAVE, THROUGH THEIR OWN. EFFORTS, OBTAINED EMPLOYMENT BUT HAVE NOT CANCELLED THEIR REGISTRATION,

*OTHERS MAY ALREADY BE HOLDING A JOB BUT HAVE REGISTERED TO SCOUT AROUND FOR BETTER PROSPECTS,+ MR. HO SAID.

RECORDS SHOWED THAT 55 OUT OF THE 68 SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS RECEIVED A STARTING SALARY OF OVER $1,000 A MONTH.

TWENTY-TWO EARNED BETWEEN $1,000 AND $1,500, 17 BETWEEN $1,500 AND $2,000 AND 16 BETWEEN $2,000 AND $2,500.

MR. HO WENT ON TO SAY THAT EVERY MONTH, SOME 200-300 ENQUIRIES WERE SENT TO. COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL FIRMS, AND OFFICERS PAID PERSONAL CALLS ON SOME 40 TO 50 LARGER ORGANISATIONS TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ON VACANCIES WHICH MIGHT BE COMING UP.

DURING THE LAST QUARTER OF 1975, HE SAID, LETTERS WERE CIRCULATED TO 1,200 FIRMS AND FACTORIES EACH EMPLOYING MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE, EXPLAINING THE FREE SERVICE OF THE SPECIAL REGISTER AND HOW EMPLOYERS COULD HELP THEMSELVES AS WELL AS THE GRADUATES.

+BUT IT IS DISCOURAGING TO NOTE THAT ONLY A HANDFUL OF THEM RESPONDED AND INFORMED US OF NINE VACANCIES. HOWEVER, WE WILL REPEAT THIS EXERCISE FROM TIME TO TIME TO PUBLICISE THE JOB PLACEMENT SERVICE.

/+FURTHERMORE,