Hunt for human capital heats up

For Wang Jing, a student in Northeast China who is about to graduate from college, moving to a new city for employment is not just about a good paycheck, but also about proper recognition of talent, a decent lifestyle and a sense of belonging.

Before traveling to Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, for an interview, Wang learned that she could stay for free up to seven days at a local government-run accommodation for job seekers. She quickly uploaded her Chinese ID, her student ID and the interview notice online, and received approval for stay in less than half a day.

"Not only did this save me from spending extra on accommodation, the lodging conditions were pretty good and the members of staff warm and helpful," she said, adding that the well-lit, 20-square-meter room came equipped with a refrigerator, an air-conditioner and a washing machine.

While millions of young people across China are weighing employment pros and cons like Wang, cities with opportunities are responding with an unprecedented arsenal of perks — from free lodging for a week to "life cycle support", covering marriage, housing and even entrepreneurial failure.

Welcome to the new era of China's talent hunt.

As of March, Hangzhou, which has 97 government-run accommodations with more than 4,400 available rooms, had served 240,000 stays. The provincial capital is continuously optimizing its "soft environment" for talent, and the latest data shows that the results have been remarkable.

According to the municipal bureau of human resources and social security, Hangzhou attracted more than 428,900 university graduates under the age of 35 in 2025, continuing its strong momentum of recent years.

Last year, the city distributed a total of 2 billion yuan ($295 million) in various employment and entrepreneurship subsidies, and provided living allowances to fresh graduates 247,000 times.

The quest for attracting talent has intensified in recent years, with many cities easing restrictions for hukou (household registration) or offering free accommodations and generous cash subsidies. Some are even providing long-term advantages, covering recruitment, retention, career advancement and general well-being.