Free hukou fails to seal the deal in talent search

Priority access to household registration is no longer a major concern when new graduates are choosing a place to live and work. Zhang Yi reports from Beijing, with Liu Kun in Wuhan.

As competition to attract talent has intensified between major cities in recent years, many have unveiled packages to lure ambitious young people. However, permanent household registration, one of the key incentives offered by many cities, appears to be losing its appeal.

For six decades, obtaining permanent residency, or hukou, has been essential for people hoping to settle in major cities.