Social security is the public's top concern, even more than employment, according to a survey by the Beijing-based Horizon Research Consultancy Group.

Over 37.9 percent of the 3,780 surveyed chose social security to head a list of issues including employment, education, public transit, health and public security, said the Beijing Evening News which analyzed the survey results.

Over 50.2 percent of those who participated in the survey said they do not have any social security or welfare, and only one percent have a complete set of insurance, including health, employment and retirement insurance, the paper said.

The survey shows urban residents are satisfied with their social security conditions, but farmers and migrant workers, who live on low incomes and have little access to social security, said their conditions were far from satisfactory.

The survey, titled "A Report on Quality of Life of Residents in2006", was conducted among 3,780 residents from five cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, and five small cities and towns in Sichuan, Zhejiang and Liaoning provinces.

The report said the percentage of jobless who are under 35 years of age has reached 38.1 percent, up three percent on the previous year.

Sources with the Horizon said the reasons include insufficient information about job openings, and a lack of vocational training and job opportunities.

Founded in 1992, the Horizon Research Consultancy Group is a Beijing-based professional research institute.

(Xinhua News Agency January 11, 2007)