China’s progress in technological innovation and industrial upgrading is catalyzing a boom in job opportunities in emerging sectors such as smart manufacturing, artificial intelligence and big data, highlighting the country’s burgeoning demand for skilled high-tech professionals.
According to data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China’s industrial added value increased by 7.1 percent year on year in 2023, and the output of high-tech industries grew by 10.3 percent, outpacing the overall industrial growth. The data also showed that the number of high-tech enterprises in China reached 240,000 by the end of 2023, up by 18.7 percent from the previous year.
The rapid development of China’s high-tech industries has created a huge demand for talent, especially in fields such as smart manufacturing, artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing, internet of things, and 5G. According to a report by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, the demand for talent in these fields exceeded 10 million in 2023, and the gap between supply and demand was over 30 percent.
High-tech jobs offer attractive salaries and benefits for talent
High-tech jobs offer attractive salaries and benefits for talent, as employers compete to attract and retain the best talent in the market. According to a report by Zhaopin, a leading online recruitment platform in China, the average monthly salary for high-tech jobs in 2023 was 11,376 yuan (about 1,760 U.S. dollars), 37.8 percent higher than the national average.
The report also revealed that the top five cities with the highest salaries for high-tech jobs in 2023 were Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hangzhou and Guangzhou, with Beijing topping the list with an average monthly salary of 16,156 yuan (about 2,500 U.S. dollars). The report also showed that the most in-demand high-tech jobs in 2023 were software engineer, data analyst, product manager, algorithm engineer and web developer.
High-tech jobs also offer attractive benefits for talent, such as flexible working hours, remote working options, training and development opportunities, and career advancement prospects. According to a survey by Liepin, another online recruitment platform in China, 76.4 percent of high-tech workers said they were satisfied with their jobs in 2023, and 83.7 percent said they were optimistic about their future career development.
High-tech jobs require high-level skills and qualifications for talent
High-tech jobs require high-level skills and qualifications for talent, as employers look for talent who can adapt to the changing technological environment and contribute to the innovation and competitiveness of their enterprises. According to a report by LinkedIn, the top 10 skills for high-tech jobs in 2023 were cloud computing, artificial intelligence, analytical reasoning, blockchain, scientific computing, business analysis, data science, cyber security, internet of things and user interface design.
High-tech jobs also require high-level qualifications for talent, such as academic degrees, professional certificates, and work experience. According to a report by Boss Zhipin, another online recruitment platform in China, 67.4 percent of high-tech jobs in 2023 required a bachelor’s degree or above, and 32.6 percent required a master’s degree or above. The report also showed that 54.3 percent of high-tech jobs in 2023 required more than three years of work experience, and 25.7 percent required more than five years of work experience.
High-tech jobs also require high-level attitudes and attributes for talent, such as creativity, curiosity, learning ability, problem-solving ability, teamwork ability, and communication ability. According to a survey by Tencent Research Institute, 86.7 percent of high-tech workers said they were willing to learn new skills and knowledge, and 82.3 percent said they were willing to accept new challenges and tasks.
High-tech jobs are the future of China’s industrial development and talent cultivation
High-tech jobs are the future of China’s industrial development and talent cultivation, as they reflect China’s strategic vision and national goals of building a modernized economy and a strong manufacturing power. According to the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035, China aims to accelerate the development of strategic emerging industries, such as information technology, biotechnology, new energy, new materials, and high-end equipment, and to enhance the innovation and competitiveness of its traditional industries, such as automobile, steel, and chemical.
High-tech jobs are also the future of China’s talent cultivation, as they represent China’s efforts and achievements in fostering a large pool of high-quality and high-skilled talent, who can support the industrial transformation and upgrading, and drive the scientific and technological innovation. According to the Outline of the National Innovation-Driven Development Strategy, China aims to build a world-class talent system, and to cultivate more than 10 million high-level innovative and entrepreneurial talent by 2035.
High-tech jobs are the new engine of China’s industrial progress and the new opportunity for China’s talent development. As China enters a new stage of development, high-tech jobs will play a more important and influential role in China’s economic and social development, and in China’s integration and cooperation with the world.
