Gan Weigang, director of Zhabei District Social and Labor Security Bureau, is a man on a mission.
"I would like to dedicate my over-eight hours' work to helping those jobless people find their eight hours' work," he said.
Ever since he was posted to his current position about eight years ago, Gan has been used to sleeping only six hours or less every day.
In sweltering summer or chilling winter, from neighborhood to neighborhood, the 55-year-old travels around the district, talking to jobless people, listening to their difficulties and trying to find them a way out.
"Compared with other districts, Zhabei is facing a more severe problem of unemployment," he said.
"Apart from those laid-off workers aged 40 to 50, there are also large numbers of young jobless people in the district."
Gan says people under 35 without a job account for more than 50 percent of the district's total unemployed people.
"Unlike middle-aged laid-off workers, these young people are usually the core of their families," Gan said. "Sometimes finding them a new job means helping a whole family."
On his call, more than 30 training schools for young jobless people have been set up in almost every community around the district.
This year, the Zhabei government has invested more than 3 million yuan (US$361,446) on expanding and renovating the biggest training zone for young people in the district.
The training zone on Wanrong Road covers more than 7,000 square meters.
It features two buildings and complete facilities. About 3,000 students are studying there.
"We have already introduced a lot of well-known training institutions from home and abroad, such as Denmark and Hong Kong, to the zone," Gan said.
"Through these specially designed classes, we hope that our students will acquire at least one practical skill which will help them to find new jobs afterwards."
In the center, students are encouraged to choose to learn what they are interested in for free.
Available courses include basic PC skills, making up, cooking, software and interior design.
Gan says nearly 40 percent of the students will be able to find the right jobs as soon as they leave the schools.
"We had a young girl student who found it difficult to get a job because she weighs about 100 kilograms," he said.
"With our help, after studying some PC skills at the center, she found a job in data processing."
Such efforts have been proved to be effective.
In the first half of this year, Zhabei District created 15,985 jobs for the district's unemployed people.
Gan, the job matchmaker, also has a deep love of the arts.
"Every day, I play the piano for at least half an hour as a way to release the pressure from work," he said.
An arts major at university, he also plays the violin and the accordion.
Years ago, Gan helped to set up Shanghai Far East Ballet Art School in the district.
"I set up the school not only because I really like dancing, but also in the thought that we could set up a factory to produce toe shoes for students," he said. "In that way, many jobless people could find jobs in the new factory."
Unfortunately, while the school is developing rapidly, the plan of the factory failed.
"I will not give up," Gan said. "I feel like its my responsibility. I will keep on looking for every opportunity to create more jobs for people in need."
"Although I have to work almost seven days a week, I'm happy to see more and more people live a stable life by finding their ideal jobs."