Startups upstage SOEs for jobs

Entrepreneurship key motivator in shifting emphasis toward employment, say experts

For decades, the most coveted jobs in China have been in government, with their steady income, job security and power. Now people like Nymar Li are changing that perception by leaving government jobs to seek their fortunes at startups.

Li became the pride of his family when he landed a job in the customs bureau right out of college a decade ago. Then last year, he gave up the security of employment for life to join an e-commerce startup working in Hangzhou, following the path of Jack Ma who helped found Alibaba Group Holding Ltd in the same city and then pulled off the largest initial public offering ever.