Even as some Chinese women claim discrimination at the workplace, a government blue paper says education has been important in narrowing the income gap between men and women.

The blue paper, "China's educational development report 2009," released by the Social Sciences Academic Press at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a major government think tank, says women who have received higher education suffer less gender discrimination at work.

"With the advancement of women's education level, the income gap between men and women has gradually narrowed," the blue paper said.

According to 2005 government figures, the ratio of average income between women and men with junior high school diploma was 68 percent; 78 percent for senior high school diploma; 80 percent for junior college certificates; and 83 percent for college education.

The paper said gender discrimination in employment is increasingly obvious in China, with even the employment prospects for female college graduates serious, let alone women without college education.

The paper said society, employers, schools and women themselves should make efforts to change gender inequality in employment.

China has broadened educational opportunities by popularizing higher education and granting all children equal and free, nine-year compulsory education.

(Xinhua News Agency February 18, 2010)