Research by China Youth Daily shows that 7 out of every 10 Chinese want a job that will provide them with a residence registration, or hukou. To offset losses resulting from lacking of hukou, 6 out of 10 want a job that pays at least 100,000 yuan per year, while 3 out of 20 think the figure should be 200,000 yuan. Let's take a look at the discussions on this issue in the domestic media.

An opinion published in The Beijing News argues that benefits brought by hukou cannot be made up with a high salary. The writer pays 800,000 yuan more than Beijing residents for housing of the same quality. His wife and child have not benefited from pregnancy insurance nor children's medical insurance. Furthermore, without a Beijing hukou, he is not qualified for civil servant positions, nor can he vote for municipal officers, though he pays taxes in Beijing. Since his rights are not protected, he has no sense of belonging to Beijing, either.

Qilu Evening News says the hukou means too much for the average Chinese person. It is not boils down to individual social benefits, but also children's education. In a market economy, the hukou is outdated. It has become a barrier for talents trying to work in different cities. To keep talents in town, the municipal government should offer a better living environment, financial rewards, or career prospects, instead of exploiting the residential registration system.
An online article on the Sichuan News Web site defines "career freedom" as choosing a career based on interest and pay. Career freedom will also bring resources to the places most in need. However, in China, the hukou dictates almost everything, even romantic relationships. Thus, many fresh graduates have to make a choice between interest, pay, and their hukou. To give people equal opportunities and career freedom, the discriminative residential registration system must be adjusted.