Jobseekers search for openings on a cloud platform in Shanghai on March 12. [Photo/Xinhua]

In light of the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic, Shanghai is looking to develop a long-term mechanism to keep job markets running via online recruitment.

The city launched a series of online job fairs targeting high-end talent from around the world on March 16 and is trying to find a way to meet the employment needs of new graduates.

During an online job fair held by Yangpu district in Shanghai on March 30, more than 3,000 jobs were offered by more than 300 employers, including renowned enterprises, educational institutions, and research institutes, and involving key industries such as digital economy, information technology, and smart manufacturing.

The district's human resources and social security bureau said that applicants can watch live streams from employers, send resumes, and inquire about jobs with HR personnel. Employers can screen the resumes of applicants and conduct job interviews online.

Applicants can be officially employed by signing contracts online and work from home for their new employers.

The bureau, along with the city's talent service center, has taken full advantage of its resources to encourage employers to attend and promote the online recruitment event to talent and new graduates in China and abroad.

This year, around 190,300 college students are expected to graduate from universities in Shanghai, an increase of 3,000 over last year, according the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission.

Ni Minjing, vice director of the commission, said that traditional offline job fairs and internships for new graduates had to be suspended due to the epidemic, causing major issues.

The government of Yangpu district has cooperated with universities in the district to build an employment service platform that will help students with career plans and with finding local job opportunities. 

The district has also issued measures to ensure high-quality talent services amid the epidemic, stressing individualized services for high-end talent to help them overcome practical problems and supporting policies to improve the development of new talent.

Yangpu's annual innovation and entrepreneurship contest will also move online this year and is now open for overseas registration. The host of the contest said it encourages innovators and entrepreneurs from around the world working on advanced technological projects to develop businesses in the district and that around 1,000 projects are expected to be presented during the contest.