Graduation may be just around the corner for 6.1 million Chinese college grads this year, but nearly a third of them are still on the prowl for a job, according to the Ministry of Education.

Amid the global economic slowdown and financial crisis, a record number of would-be grads are struggling to find a job in the grim employment market.

More than 4.1 million students have already secured jobs before graduation, according to the ministry. That mirrors last year's ratio of students who found employment.