This week's 'Worth-a-Read'

My favorite part yet of Alan Hupert's brilliant series of articles 'Survival is Not Enough'.  Some brilliant ideas on how to survive and adapt one's behavior in the economic downturn.

Call center training in China continues to boom

China's call centre industry has become one of the largest in the world.  Although the industry is valued at just over US$37 billion and still maintaining an annual growth rate of over 10%, it is one 'starving of talent'.  From our observations, call centers are continuing to invest huge amounts in training to develop talented call centre workers to serve a rapidly growing industry.

A major Shanghai newspaper recently released a report entitled 'Shanghai's call centers are staving for talent'.  It seems that despite worsening economic conditions, call centers continue to have difficulty recruiting qualified talents and still have difficulties with staff retention.

In Beijing, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of call centers requiring both English and soft-skills training.  It is clear that call centers in China have long underinvested in training and perhaps, as some centers slow down, centers are finally allocating some time and resources to properly train their staff.  

What do you think?

This Week in the News

World Bank warns China can't make up for collapse in Western demand (The Telegraph)
"China’s deep coffers and its determination to invest in longer term stimulus projects such skills training, healthcare and product innovation care would help to rebalance China’s domestic economy in the medium to long term."

China/Australia engineering training partnership (Manufacturers' Monthly)

World Bank outlook further dims China's sun (Forbes)

"The World Bank welcomed China’s "visible hand" to stimulate consumption and improve people’s livelihoods by expanding the government’s role and spending on health, education and social protection measures."

Overseas education sector remains strong (Julia Gillard, Australian Education Minister)

"The campaign ‘Study in Australia 2010’ will see $3.5 million will be redirected to specific measures in existing major source countries such as China, India, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand over the next nine months."