bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

He Huifeng

More Chinese students trained overseas are returning home for work as expectations of a speedy post-Covid economic recovery raise job prospects, according to a survey by a major Chinese recruitment company.
In a report released earlier, Zhilian Zhaopin said the number of graduates in its poll who returned from overseas, called haigui in Mandarin, rose by 8.6 per cent in 2022 from the previous year.
It did not say how many people it surveyed but according to the Ministry of Education, 1.05 million overseas-trained students made the return journey in 2021.
About 58 per cent of the surveyed returnees said they went home because it was more convenient to live in China, 8.6 percentage points higher than in the 2021 survey.
Two other leading reasons were strong links with the home culture and fewer problems finding employment.
More than 20 per cent of those polled expected “the economic recovery would speed up with the adjustment of Covid-19 prevention measures, which then would offer more job opportunities”, the report said.
China abandoned its restrictive zero-Covid policy late last year and has refocused on reviving the Covid-ravaged economy.


The report also noted an increase in both job postings for returnees and job applications by them in the first week after the Lunar New Year in late January.
“We also observed that after reopening, demand among local companies for overseas talent has risen quickly. Local governments are also arranging for local companies to head overseas to attract talent,” it said.
China has deemed a strong talent pool as mission critical in the push for technological self-reliance and to counter US attempts to contain its hi-tech industry.
To cement its status in the global industrial chain, the country has also invested heavily in developing advanced manufacturing and emerging industries.
“Compared with 2021, there are more posts for professional services and consultations, pharmaceutical and biological engineering, mechanical equipment and heavy industries,” the report said.
“Corporate demand for professional services such as human resources and legal consultations continued to increase, which led to a demand for overseas-trained talent. Biological engineering and equipment manufacturing are promising sectors in China, with high demand for overseas technology specialists.”


The report also noted growing interest in work outside the country’s megacities, with fewer applications for positions in first-tier centres.
Lower-tier cities have unveiled incentives to attract professionals and touted lower property prices and greater everyday convenience as advantages of living in those areas, efforts that have succeeded in attracting haigui, according to the report.
But more of the returnees said they preferred to work in state-owned enterprises, with 38.8 per cent preferring SOEs in 2022, up from 29.5 per cent in the 2021 survey.
In addition, more than 70 per cent of the students signalled greater interest in taking civil service exams.
Sophia Xie, 22, who will finish her master’s degree in Britain this summer, said that among her friends the longer-term plan was to return to China.
“We are certainly eager to work in Britain or other developed countries for a while after graduation, but at the same time we will also make efforts to prepare for the civil service exams in China,” Xie said.
China’s economy grew 3.0 per cent in 2022, the second worst rate of growth in more than six decades. It is widely anticipated that activity will pick up this year but the country is under pressure to create enough jobs for the record number of graduates expected to join the labour market this year.


China’s economy gains new growth and deep scars over past 5 years: NBS census

Hong Kong employers look to hire more relationship managers and data analysts next year

China’s small businesses gasp for air as consumption slump deepens

China funeral home asks jobseekers to spend 10 minutes in morgue, sparks public amusement

China jobs

More of China’s overseas graduates head home, lured by jobs and convenience: survey

China is under pressure to create enough jobs for the record number of graduates expected to join the labour market this year. Photo: Xinhua

China’s inflation rise belies persistent economic challenges expected in months following reopening

China’s consumer price index (CPI) rose by 2.1 per cent in January, up from 1.8 per cent growth in December. Photo: AFP

Producer price index (PPI), which reflects the prices that factories charge wholesalers, grew by fell by 0.8 per cent last month, down from falling by 0.7 per cent in December. Photo: AFP

China jobs: labour demand shows signs of heating up as chip makers scramble to find talent

Chinese companies are eager to hire new talent following three years of on-again, off-again Covid restrictions. Photo: AFP

A job fair in Weinan city in northwest China’s Shaanxi province in early February. Photo: Xinhua

China reopening: companies try to lure back expat staff with bigger pay, allowances after pandemic exodus

Illustration by Henry Wong

‘“The reopening came at the perfect time, making it possible for us to have these ambitious plans of moving people to China,” said Ruthger de Vries of Scania Group. Photo: HANDOUT

Economy

China Economy

News

China

Cultural ties and prospects for the post-Covid economy also drawing people back, recruiting company says
Survey finds increasing interest in positions at state firms and in the civil service


Cultural ties and prospects for the post-Covid economy also drawing people back, recruiting company says.


China's economic recovery

China's border reopening

More of China’s overseas graduates head home, lured by jobs and convenience: survey

Cultural ties and prospects for the post-Covid economy also drawing people back, recruiting company says Survey finds increasing interest in positions at state firms and in the civil service

Cultural ties and prospects for the post-Covid economy also drawing people back, recruiting company says

Survey finds increasing interest in positions at state firms and in the civil service