Hunt for human capital heats up
Cities seeking talented young people unleash unprecedented arsenal of perks — from free short-term accommodations to long-term life and career support
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The Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta regions are clearly ahead in the race for attracting talent.
The report released last year notes that in a "talent war", cities should fully respect the objective laws of population and industrial agglomeration in advantageous regions, leverage their comparative strengths and follow the natural trend.
Zhang Kangsi, a professor at the School of Economics at Dongbei University of Finance and Economics in Dalian, Liaoning province, said cities that attract most young people generally share common characteristics.
"Cities with relatively concentrated job opportunities, strong industrial and innovation platforms, well-developed urban services, and a better balance between career opportunities and the quality of life are among the top draws," Zhang said.
Shenzhen, which has topped the post-1995 talent attraction list for three consecutive years, boasts a net talent inflow that is 1 percentage point higher than the national average, thanks to its low household registration threshold and industrial innovation advantages.
Last year, the city welcomed more than 400,000 talented young people with its innovative industrial structure, which provides many job positions and relatively high incomes, along with the strong capacity of leading companies, such as Huawei and BYD, to absorb fresh graduates.
Liu Mengtong, a university junior in Zhuhai, Guangdong, who originally hails from a major city in Northeast China, said that she doesn't plan looking for a job back home after graduation.
"Instead, I will stay in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. I feel a stronger sense of identity here. Also, my university major in communication studies will allow for better job opportunities in this region," she said.
The student added that Shenzhen would most likely be her first preference, given its strong development momentum, open and inclusive atmosphere, comfortable natural environment, and abundant cultural and leisure options.
