MORE than a quarter of laid-off Chinese women are finding new jobs right outside their door, China Women’s News reported Wednesday.

　　For women in eight Chinese cities, the local neighborhood is the most likely place to find work, according to a recent survey conducted by the All China Women’s Federation.

　　The survey revealed that laid-off women found most jobs in the service sector, such as catering (25.1), wholesale (6.4) and retailing (8.0).

　　The survey listed low skills as the main obstacle in getting new jobs, so classes, such as home economics, cooking, product promotion and computer application, have become popular, with 80 percent of those surveyed wanting to take courses.

　　Age is another obstacle. More than half the laid-off women are over 40 years of age.

　　The survey also found that some 60 percent of the women did not receive basic living benefits and about 80 percent were not covered by medical or old-age insurance. (Xinhua)