Every year after Spring Festival holiday, there is a surge of workers in rural areas looking for jobs for the coming year. Is it easy for them to find a job? What are their expectations?

A few days after the busy Spring Festival period and this small town in Hebei province is still buzzing.

Only now, it has come alive for this job fair.

Labor shortages in recent years have pushed salaries up for qualified workers. But in places such as this small village, skilled labor can be hard to come by.

Urbanization has left surplus labor in rural areas. The employment rate here is vital to the development of the local economy as well as the stability of society.

Over 100 companies in production and processing have joined the job fair. Similar fairs are to be held in other counties. Organizers say their aim is to build a dependable platform for those seeking employment.

"The job fair is for fresh graduates and workers seeking jobs. Our task is to make sure all the recruiters are reliable. They must provide accident insurance, and sign contracts with applicants," job fair organizer Yang Yapin said.

Although many recruiters are yet to offer benefits such as social insurance, the job market in rural areas is steadily improving, one step at a time.