Shenzhen joins competition for top talent, using hukou as a lure

The southern metropolis of Shenzhen has joined other cities in a fierce competition to attract talent by simplifying the procedure for university graduates to obtain local household registration, known as hukou.

Under new employment rules, graduates will be able to submit applications online by uploading their education certificates and personal information instead of going to human resource offices in person, according to a recent announcement by the local government.

The computer system will check the documents' authenticity and applicants' qualifications, and then provide examination results within a few minutes. The work was previously done manually by employees, taking weeks or even months.