While the Chinese job market is not immune to mounting pressure, expats in China are better off than returning home. (Photo Source: China Daily) Photo Gallery>>>

BEIJING,Dec. 1 -- Many expats will not have any problems finding work despite the gloom and doom of the forecasted global recession. In fact, if your expertise lies in the pharmaceutical industry or in the field of research and development, you can write your own check. The same can be said for high-tech specialists and engineers.

While many firms around the world are laying off staff, or about to, recruitment experts say Chinese firms are actually hiring more expats.

Olly Riches, China manager for Michael Page, an international recruitment agency that hires mostly executive level positions for global companies, says despite difficult times, his company is still seeing a steady number of jobs come through.

With the exception of harder-hit areas, particularly property and the real estate sectors closely related to the banks, he says companies are still hiring, especially multinationals with Western headquarters.

Companies have to adapt their hiring strategies in response to the current market situation, he says.

"The majority of clients are not telling us of a 'recruitment freeze', but they are being more cautious and selective about the candidates they hire because no one can predict what is going on in the world," he says.

Riches also says companies are dropping "dead wood" as they see fit in order to keep a lid on the company headcount.

In good economic times, companies would be keen to refill these vacancies, but now, with tighter budgets, "they aren't really interested in replacing them".

Kelly Qian, executive partner of The Jace-Kelly, a local headhunting firm that primarily recruits executive positions for multinational companies in China, says she is seeing similar hiring behavior.

"At this time, most of our clients are still hiring, but they are slowing down the process," Qian says, also noting those with low job performance have an increased risk of being laid off.

Source: Xinhua