CHINESE college graduates have demonstrated an increased interest in the manufacturing industry, particularly in emerging and high-tech sectors. According to data from Chinese job-seeking website Liepin, the areas of AIGC (artificial intelligence generated content), intelligent manufacturing, and large-scale AI models received the highest number of job applications from graduates by the end of April 2023.

The three sectors experienced significant year-on-year growth in the number of job applications, with rates of 303.12%, 297.27%, and 235.25%, respectively. In contrast, a survey by Liepin revealed a decrease in applications from upcoming graduates to the internet and real estate industries compared to previous years.

The machinery manufacturing sector, however, witnessed a remarkable rise in the proportion of applications, from 4.47% in 2021 to 9.14% in 2023.

Sun Piwu, official with Shaanxi Automobile Group Co., Ltd., acknowledged the increased interest from college students in the manufacturing industry. Sun said that they received a notable increase in applications surpassing 10,000 in 2023. This shift can be attributed to changes in the job market and the growing appeal of high-end manufacturing.

Liepin vice president Ba Ran emphasized that college graduates are more interested in jobs related to the building, management, operation, and maintenance of digital workshops and intelligent factories in advanced manufacturing and strategic emerging industries.

These sought-after industries include new energy, integrated circuits, and industrial automation.

Recent job fairs in Shanghai have also reflected this trend, with nearly half of the 1,325 recruiters being high-tech enterprises.

These companies were inundated with 25,000 job applications. Many students, like postgraduate student Yuan from Shanghai Polytechnic University, prefer offers from promising industries and sci-tech innovation enterprises due to their potential for growth and competitive salaries.

The increased demand for talent is evident in growing industries like new energy and photovoltaics. Li Zhiqiang, a Hefei University graduate now working at an electric car company, witnessed his department expand rapidly within a year from dozens of employees to over 100.

Similarly, Ma Fuhai, deputy general manager of the human resources department at LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd., a leading enterprise, noted a 50% increase in campus recruitment of graduates in 2023 compared to the previous year.

Liepin data revealed that advanced manufacturing jobs offer better pay, with average annual salaries for roles in intelligent manufacturing, AIGC, and large-scale AI models ranging from 279,900 yuan (US$39,158) to 330,200 yuan.

Despite the enthusiasm of college graduates, some manufacturing enterprises struggle to find employees with the necessary expertise for intelligent and digital development. Companies attribute this challenge to a mismatch between the required skills and the applicants’ capabilities. The demand for multidisciplinary and cross-disciplinary talent surpasses the available supply.

According to research, China faces an overall shortfall of approximately 25 to 30 million digital professionals. Li Jinsheng, an official with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, said that efforts are underway to accelerate the training of digital technology engineers, focusing on fields such as smart manufacturing, big data, blockchain, and integrated circuits.

(Xinhua)