Klaus F. Zimmermann

The China Institute for Employment Research (CIER) at Renmin University of China, now a globally well known and respected research institution, organizes regular influential meetings by academics, government experts and practitioners from business to judge the state of the Chinese labor market. CIER is directed by Professor Xiangquan Zeng, a former long-term Dean of the School of Labor and Human Resources of Renmin University and Fellow of the Global Labor Organization (GLO). He is also a long-term friend and collaborator of GLO President Klaus F. Zimmermann.

For more than two decades, Zeng and Zimmermann have worked together for the Chinese-German academic relationships. Zimmermann (UNU-MERIT and Maastricht University), Professor Emeritus Bonn University, Founding Director of the Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) in Bonn, former President of the German Economic Institute (DIW Berlin) and former Professor and Dean at the University of Munich had received and supported very many Chinese scholars in these functions.

Due to the large changes in China and in the world, traditional data sources have often become meaningless and new indicators are needed. It was an innovative initiative, when CIER presented in 2011 for the first time what is now called the CIER-Index, an indicator that measures the tightness of the Chinese labor market by relating the size of jobseekers to the demands of the hiring authorities using survey data from business. The index has established its value and is well used inside and outside China.

On 18 October 2018, the regular seasonal forecasting meeting at Renmin University has dealt with the employment consequences of the global tensions in international economic relations. Concerns have been expressed about the predicted moderation of economic growth and an expected decline in employment, which were detailed and confirmed by CIER analysis and all the experts present.

All invited speakers including Renmin Vice-President Liu Yuanchun, former Labor Minister of China Xiaojian Zhang and GLO President Klaus F. Zimmermann expressed in their keynote speeches strongly the importance  and significance CIER and its leader, Professor Xiangquan Zeng, had over the entire decade.

In his keynote address at the workshop, GLO President Zimmermann said among others:

“The event today is a regular influential meeting by academics, government experts and practitioners from business to judge the state of the Chinese labor market. It is organized by the China Institute for Employment Research (CIER) at Renmin University of China, now a globally well known and respected research institution. I have regularly visited Renmin University of China and collaborated with CIER and its Leader, and also attended this meeting before. I am happy to be back and I am looking forward with interest to the exchange.

I am deeply honored to be invited to address you at this event, since CIER is celebrating this year its 10th anniversary. During this period CIER has grown remarkably and became a significant voice of economic analysis in China and the world. As a think-tank, CIER has become an academic lighthouse for employment research and policy.

The kind of meeting we have today is innovative in itself, since due to the dramatic changes of China and in the world, traditional data sources have often become meaningless and new indicators and their permanent evaluation have to be organized. It was a great and innovative initiative, when CIER presented in 2011 for the first time what is now called the CIER-Index, an indicator that measures the tightness of the Chinese labor market by relating the size of jobseekers to the demands of the hiring authorities. The index has established its value and is well used inside and outside China.

This year’s conference deals in particular with the employment consequences of the global tensions in international economic relations. While the situations had remained remarkable stable, the dangers for the world economy are large and the consequences for employment may become significant. So I will be very much interested in your analysis as well as I wish all of us luck.

This all has been possible because of the initiatives and the visions of Xiangquan Zeng, a former long-term Dean of the School of Labor and Human Resources, who serves since the beginning as the Director of CIER. He has been a long-term reliable partner, an excellent advisor, and last but not least a very good friend. I can only congratulate Professor Zeng and CIER for these very great achievements!”

During the meeting:

Zimmermann with GLO Fellow Fei Wang, Professor at Renmin University (right)

GLO Fellows Xiangquan Zeng (right) and Shi Li of Beijing Normal University	CIER Director Xiangquan Zeng of Rinmin University during his talk presenting his analysis of the Chinese labor market. In front: Liu Yuanchun, Vice President of Renmin University	During the debate:  Liu Yuanchun, Xiangquan Zeng & Klaus F. Zimmermann

Former Chinese Minister of Labor Xiaojian Zhang (middle) with GLO Fellow Xiangquan Zeng (left) & GLO President Klaus F. Zimmermann after a joint dinner.

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