'Red-collar' jobs most favored / '红领'受青睐白领渐尴尬

For nearly 20 years, white-collar jobs have been the most prized in China since the 1990s. However, now more people are hoping to trade their white collars for red ones, China News Agency reported Thursday. So-called "red-collar" workers refer to civil servants in China. Because of stable incomes, security and the promise of promotions, more and more people are aspiring to be civil servants. Conversely, the term "white-collar" has lost its appeal and become embarrassing. To mention a white-collar worker conjures an image of dressing well on a crowded bus or subway and struggling to afford a house.
据中新社2日报道，自上世纪90年代起，白领成为最让人向往的阶层。然而时隔近20年，"红领"阶层悄然出现，备受青睐。"红领"指公务员阶层，因其收入稳定、福利优厚、晋升空间较大，越来越多的人希望加入公务员大军。相反，"白领"这个词渐渐失去魅力，成为一个尴尬的词语。提到白领，人们往往想到穿着光鲜亮丽去挤公交或地铁、为买房而拼命工作的上班族。