Overseas Returnees to China Have Bright Prospects for Employment and Entrepreneurship, Report by Zhaopin and CCG Finds
BEIJING, Aug. 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Zhaopin Limited ("Zhaopin" or the "Company"), a leading career platform in China focused on matching talent with skills and opportunities through their career lifecycle, and the Center for China and Globalization (CCG), a leading Chinese independent think tank based in Beijing, jointly released the "Report on Employment & Entrepreneurship of Chinese Returnees 2018".
With the fast pace of economic growth in China, more and more overseas Chinese students are returning to China for career development or starting their own businesses. More than 480,900 overseas Chinese students returned to China in 2017, bringing the total number of returnees to over 3.13 million since 1978, according to statistics by the Ministry of Education.
Zhaopin and CCG have been conducting their annual survey to track the employment trends of overseas returnees since 2015. This year's report revealed the latest development in their employment and entrepreneurship endeavors, their choices and situations before and after studying abroad. The report is based on 2,190 effective survey responses from overseas returnees this year.
Highlights for employment and entrepreneurship of Chinese returnees 2018:
-- The top reasons for overseas Chinese to return to China: to reunite with
family and friends (67%); China's booming economic growth (40%); and
unfavorable overseas economic, political and social environments, such
as work and immigration policies (27%).
-- About 61% of returnees went back to their hometowns in China. The rest
relocated mainly to developed areas, including Beijing (13%), Shanghai
(8%) and Guangdong Province (7%).
-- The pace of local economic growth was an important reference for
overseas returnees in their relocation decisions. While Beijing,
Shanghai and Guangdong were attracting overseas returnees, the Northeast
and Western China were losing overseas talent.
-- About 65% of overseas returnees believed that the "Talent War" waged by
cities to attract talent showed that local governments gave more
importance and attention to talent, and 52% said more policy supports
were needed for overseas returnees.
-- Over 72% of overseas returnees were currently employed, 5% were starting
their own businesses and 16% were still looking for jobs.
-- About 42% of overseas returnees could find jobs within one month after
they came back to China, and 41% could find employment in one to three
months.
-- In terms of salary, about 33% of overseas returnees had a pre-tax
monthly salary below RMB6,000, 25% had a monthly salary of RMB6,001 to
8,000, and 15% earned RMB8,001 to 10,000 per month.
-- About 80% of overseas returnees were not satisfied with their salaries.
Among them, 49% said their salaries were below expectations, and 31%
said their salaries were far below expectations.
Studying overseas
More Chinese students chose to study overseas over the past decade. The top reasons were: to learn the culture and life of other countries and enrich personal experience (76%); to improve independent living ability (52%); and higher education quality abroad (51%).
Reasons for studying overseas
-----------------------------
Reason Male Female Overall
------ ---- ------ -------
Learn the culture and life of other countries and enrich personal experience 69% 81% 76%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- --- ---
Improve independent living ability 53% 51% 52%
---------------------------------- --- --- ---
Higher education quality abroad 53% 50% 51%
------------------------------- --- --- ---
More competitive after returning to China 31% 35% 33%
----------------------------------------- --- --- ---
Fierce competition of domestic education resources 20% 13% 17%
-------------------------------------------------- --- --- ---
Plan to develop overseas 8% 6% 7%
------------------------ --- --- ---
Other 1% 2% 2%
----- --- --- ---
UK, US, Australia, Japan and South Korea were the top five destinations that attracted the most Chinese students.
Destinations for overseas study
-------------------------------
Country/region Male Female Overall
-------------- ---- ------ -------
UK 15.35% 22.46% 19.14%
--- ----- ----- -----
US 21.23% 15.18% 18.01%
--- ----- ----- -----
Australia 11.33% 9.16% 10.17%
--------- ----- ---- -----
Japan 10.19% 9.91% 10.04%
----- ----- ---- -----
South Korea 8.90% 8.78% 8.84%
----------- ---- ---- ----
Canada 5.16% 4.02% 4.55%
------ ---- ---- ----
France 3.30% 5.52% 4.48%
------ ---- ---- ----
Germany 3.44% 2.38% 2.88%
------- ---- ---- ----
Russia 3.01% 2.38% 2.68%
------ ---- ---- ----
New Zealand 1.58% 2.51% 2.07%
----------- ---- ---- ----
Hong Kong 1.29% 1.88% 1.61%
--------- ---- ---- ----
Netherlands 0.57% 0.75% 0.67%
----------- ---- ---- ----
Macao 0.57% 0.38% 0.47%
----- ---- ---- ----
Sweden 0.43% 0.38% 0.40%
------ ---- ---- ----
Taiwan 0.29% 0.38% 0.33%
------ ---- ---- ----
Others 13.34% 13.93% 13.65%
------ ----- ----- -----
Regarding majors chosen by Chinese students, 43% studied economics and business, 14% selected arts and humanities, and 10% engineering.
Top ten majors selected by Chinese students
-------------------------------------------
Major Male Female Overall
----- ---- ------ -------
Economics and business 44.05% 42.66% 43.31%
---------------------- ----- ----- -----
Arts and humanities 7.46% 19.70% 13.99%
------------------- ---- ----- -----
Engineering 15.21% 4.64% 9.57%
----------- ----- ---- ----
Computer science 9.76% 1.38% 5.29%
---------------- ---- ---- ----
Management 3.01% 6.78% 5.02%
---------- ---- ---- ----
Social Sciences and
public health 3.16% 5.14% 4.22%
------------------- ---- ---- ----
linguistics 2.30% 4.77% 3.61%
----------- ---- ---- ----
Environment / ecology 2.58% 1.13% 1.81%
--------------------- ---- ---- ----
Journalism and
communication 0.57% 1.88% 1.27%
-------------- ---- ---- ----
Chemistry 1.72% 0.88% 1.27%
--------- ---- ---- ----
As to the highest degree obtained overseas, about 56% of Chinese students got master's degrees and 38% got bachelor's degrees. An increasing number of students chose to study overseas for bachelor's degrees.
Degrees obtained overseas
-------------------------
Degree Male Female Overall
------ ---- ------ -------
High school 0.43% 0.00% 0.20%
----------- ---- ---- ----
Associate 1.58% 1.88% 1.74%
--------- ---- ---- ----
Bachelor 40.17% 35.63% 37.75%
-------- ----- ----- -----
Master 51.51% 59.10% 55.56%
------ ----- ----- -----
Doctor 3.87% 1.25% 2.48%
------ ---- ---- ----
Others 2.44% 2.13% 2.28%
------ ---- ---- ----
Returning to China
The top reasons for overseas Chinese to return to China were: to reunite with family and friends (67%); China's booming economic growth (40%); and unfavorable overseas economic, political and social environments, such as work and immigration policies (27%).
Reasons for returning to China
------------------------------
Reason Male Female Overall
------ ---- ------ -------
Reunite with
family and
friends 58% 75% 67%
------------ --- --- ---
China's
booming
economic
growth 47% 35% 40%
--------- --- --- ---
Unfavorable
overseas
economic,
political and
social
environments
(such as work
and
immigration
policies) 24% 29% 27%
-------------- --- --- ---
Attached to
Chinese
culture and
food 19% 27% 23%
------------ --- --- ---
Studied major
has a good
development
prospect in
China 17% 12% 14%
------------- --- --- ---
Has solid
foundation
for
development
in China 12% 14% 13%
------------ --- --- ---
Willing to
contribute to
the country 17% 8% 12%
-------------- --- --- ---
Attractive
policy for
recruiting
talent 14% 9% 12%
----------- --- --- ---
Good
environment
for
entrepreneurship 10% 8% 9%
----------------- --- --- ---
Others 1% 1% 1%
------ --- --- ---
About 61% of returnees went back to their hometowns in China. The rest relocated mainly to developed areas, including Beijing (13%), Shanghai (8%) and Guangdong Province (7%). The pace of local economic growth was an important reference for overseas returnees in their relocation decisions. While Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong were attracting overseas returnees, the Northeast and Western China were losing overseas talent.
Relocation destinations for returnees
-------------------------------------
Location Overall
-------- -------
Hometown 60.78%
-------- -----
Beijing 13.32%
------- -----
Shanghai 8.43%
-------- ----
Guangdong 6.96%
--------- ----
Zhejiang 1.47%
-------- ----
Jiangsu 1.47%
------- ----
Sichuan 1.27%
------- ----
Shaanxi 1.00%
------- ----
In terms of overseas work experience, only 30% had no work experience. About 23% returned to China with 1 to 3 years of experience and more than 15% had over 3 years of experience.
Overseas work experience
------------------------
Experience Male Female Overall
---------- ---- ------ -------
No experience 28.98% 31.62% 30.39%
------------- ----- ----- -----
Less than half year 14.35% 14.30% 14.32%
------------------- ----- ----- -----
Half to one year 18.22% 16.06% 17.07%
---------------- ----- ----- -----
1 to 3 years 23.10% 22.96% 23.03%
------------ ----- ----- -----
3 to 6 years 10.47% 10.54% 10.51%
------------ ----- ----- -----
Over 6 years 4.88% 4.52% 4.69%
------------ ---- ---- ----
Most Chinese returnees had no overseas entrepreneurship experience. Only 4% had successful entrepreneurship experience.
Overseas entrepreneurship experience
------------------------------------
Experience Male Female Overall
---------- ---- ------ -------
No experience 79.05% 89.08% 84.40%
------------- ----- ----- -----
Failed experience 14.92% 8.53% 11.51%
----------------- ----- ---- -----
Successful
experience 6.03% 2.38% 4.08%
----------- ---- ---- ----
In recent years, a "Talent War" was waged in some cities to help attract talent with favorable policies. About 65% of overseas returnees believed that the "Talent War" showed that local governments gave more importance and attention on talent, and 52% said more policy supports were needed for overseas returnees.
Opinions on Tatent War among cities
-----------------------------------
Opinion Male Female Overall
------- ---- ------ -------
Such policies
to attract
talent show
the
increasing
importance
and
attention
giving to
talent 64% 66% 65%
------------- --- --- ---
More policy
supports
needed for
overseas
returnees 52% 51% 52%
----------- --- --- ---
Such policies
have impact
on city
choice for
employment
and
entrepreneurship 34% 36% 35%
----------------- --- --- ---
Need longer
time to see
the
effectiveness
of such
policies 32% 31% 31%
-------------- --- --- ---
Others 2% 2% 2%
------ --- --- ---
Regarding which incentive policies were needed to attract overseas returnees, top choices included: raising salaries and benefits (65%), improving employment mechanisms for returnees (57%), and providing household registration and housing (36%).
Suggested policies to attract overseas returnees
------------------------------------------------
Policy Male Female Overall
------ ---- ------ -------
Raise
salaries
and
benefits 66% 64% 65%
--------- --- --- ---
Improve
employment
mechanism 53% 60% 57%
----------- --- --- ---
Provide
household
registration
and housing 37% 35% 36%
------------- --- --- ---
Provide
entrepreneurship
mentoring 25% 28% 27%
----------------- --- --- ---
Establish
platform
for
communications 18% 19% 18%
--------------- --- --- ---
Provide
career
development
advice 12% 15% 14%
------------ --- --- ---
Promote the
government's
incentive
policies 10% 13% 12%
------------- --- --- ---
Increase R&D
investment 11% 10% 11%
------------ --- --- ---
Reward
returnees
who make
great
contributions 11% 10% 11%
-------------- --- --- ---
Strengthen
IPR
protection 9% 7% 8%
----------- --- --- ---
Create sound
environment
governing
by law 6% 8% 7%
------------ --- --- ---
Provide
social
inclusion
support 6% 4% 5%
---------- --- --- ---
Improve
system for
technology
conversion 6% 3% 4%
----------- --- --- ---
Others 1% 0% 0%
------ --- --- ---
Employment for returnees
According to the survey, about 72% of overseas returnees were currently employed, 5% were starting their own businesses and 16% were looking for jobs.
Employment status of overseas returnees
---------------------------------------
Status Male Female Overall
------ ---- ------ -------
Employed 71.77% 72.60% 72.16%
-------- ----- ----- -----
Seeking
jobs 18.57% 13.92% 16.40%
------- ----- ----- -----
Starting
own
business 3.51% 6.17% 4.75%
--------- ---- ---- ----
Others 6.15% 7.31% 6.69%
------ ---- ---- ----
When seeking employment in China, overseas returnees believes they had advantages in: language and cross-culture communications; global perspective; more adaptable and independent; and critical thinking capability.
Advantages in seeking employment
--------------------------------
Advantage Male Female Overall
--------- ---- ------ -------
Language and
cross-
culture
communications 71% 74% 73%
--------------- --- --- ---
Global
perspective 60% 58% 59%
------------ --- --- ---
More
adaptable
and
independent 33% 40% 37%
------------ --- --- ---
Critical
thinking
capability 25% 25% 25%
----------- --- --- ---
Understand
overseas
market and
can help
build up
brand and
sales
channels
overseas 15% 17% 16%
----------- --- --- ---
More
innovative 17% 14% 16%
----------- --- --- ---
Strong social
interaction
skills 13% 13% 13%
------------- --- --- ---
International
cooperation 12% 11% 12%
------------- --- --- ---
Professional
advantage 11% 11% 11%
------------ --- --- ---
Help to
improve
working
ability 5% 8% 6%
-------- --- --- ---
Contribute to
job
promotion 4% 3% 3%
------------- --- --- ---
Easy to learn
overseas
technology 3% 3% 3%
------------- --- --- ---
Easy to hire
overseas R&D
talent and
partner 2% 2% 2%
------------- --- --- ---
Easy to get
overseas VC 1% 0% 0%
------------ --- --- ---
When looking for jobs, 49% of returnees applied through recruitment websites and APPs, 22% sent resumes directly to their target companies, and 19% relied on recommendations from their families and friends.
Job-seeking channels
--------------------
Channel Male Female Overall
------- ---- ------ -------
Recruitment
websites and
APPs 44.27% 53.15% 48.98%
------------- ----- ----- -----
Applying
directly to
target
companies 26.68% 17.66% 21.89%
------------ ----- ----- -----
Recommendations
by families and
friends 17.59% 20.28% 19.02%
---------------- ----- ----- -----
Headhunters and
HR
intermediaries 4.35% 3.50% 3.90%
--------------- ---- ---- ----
Offline job
fairs 2.57% 1.05% 1.76%
----------- ---- ---- ----
Social media
postings 1.38% 1.57% 1.48%
------------ ---- ---- ----
Overseas
recruitment
activities by
government and
companies 1.19% 1.57% 1.39%
--------------- ---- ---- ----
Others 1.19% 0.87% 1.02%
------ ---- ---- ----
Civil service
examination
and other
government
channels 0.79% 0.35% 0.56%
------------- ---- ---- ----
About 42% of overseas returnees could find jobs within one month after they came back to China, and 41% could find employment in one to three months.
Time needed to find employment
------------------------------
Time Male Female Overall
---- ---- ------ -------
Within 1 month 42.69% 40.91% 41.74%
-------------- ----- ----- -----
1 to 3 months 40.12% 41.61% 40.91%
------------- ----- ----- -----
4 to 6 months 12.45% 12.76% 12.62%
------------- ----- ----- -----
7 to 12 months 2.17% 3.32% 2.78%
-------------- ---- ---- ----
Over 1 years 2.57% 1.40% 1.95%
------------ ---- ---- ----
Top industries that hired overseas returnees included finance, communications, software and IT services, manufacturing, education, and wholesale and retail.
Top ten industries for overseas returnees
-----------------------------------------
Industry Male Female Overall
-------- ---- ------ -------
Finance 16.80% 11.71% 14.10%
------- ----- ----- -----
Communications, software
and IT services 12.65% 13.81% 13.27%
------------------------ ----- ----- -----
Manufacturing 14.82% 9.27% 11.87%
------------- ----- ---- -----
Education 6.92% 15.21% 11.32%
--------- ---- ----- -----
Wholesale and retail 7.31% 8.04% 7.70%
-------------------- ---- ---- ----
Culture, sports and
entertainment 4.15% 10.31% 7.42%
------------------- ---- ----- ----
Leasing and business
services 5.53% 6.82% 6.22%
-------------------- ---- ---- ----
R&D and technology services 5.53% 3.85% 4.64%
--------------------------- ---- ---- ----
Real estate 5.34% 3.67% 4.45%
----------- ---- ---- ----
Construction 4.94% 2.80% 3.80%
------------ ---- ---- ----
In terms of salary, about 33% of overseas returnees had a pre-tax monthly salary below RMB6,000, 25% had a monthly salary of RMB6,001 to 8,000, and 15% earned RMB8,001 to 10,000 per month.
Salaries for overseas returnees
-------------------------------
Pre-tax
salary
(RMB) Male Female Overall
------- ---- ------ -------
Below 6,000 31.42% 34.62% 33.12%
----------- ----- ----- -----
6,001 to
8,000 23.12% 26.05% 24.68%
-------- ----- ----- -----
8,001 to
10,000 19.37% 11.36% 15.12%
-------- ----- ----- -----
10,001 to
15,000 14.43% 14.86% 14.66%
--------- ----- ----- -----
15,001 to
20,000 6.32% 6.64% 6.49%
--------- ---- ---- ----
20,001 to
30,000 3.56% 3.50% 3.53%
--------- ---- ---- ----
30,001 to
50,000 1.19% 1.57% 1.39%
--------- ---- ---- ----
Above 50,000 0.59% 1.40% 1.02%
------------ ---- ---- ----
About 80% of overseas returnees were not satisfied with their salaries. Among them, 49% said their salaries were below expectations, and 31% said their salaries were far below expectations.
Salary and expectation for overseas returnees
---------------------------------------------
Comparison Male Female Overall
---------- ---- ------ -------
Salary
far
below
expectation 31.42% 31.29% 31.35%
----------- ----- ----- -----
Salary
below
expectation 49.60% 48.08% 48.79%
----------- ----- ----- -----
Salary
matches
expectation 18.18% 19.41% 18.83%
----------- ----- ----- -----
Salary
above
expectation 0.59% 1.05% 0.83%
----------- ---- ---- ----
Salary
far
above
expectation 0.20% 0.17% 0.19%
----------- ---- ---- ----
Entrepreneurship for returnees
Among those returnees who started their own businesses, nearly half did so in 2017, compared with 18% in 2016 and 9% in 2015.
Time to start own business
--------------------------
Time Percentage
---- ----------
Before 2015 25.35%
----------- -----
2015 8.45%
---- ----
2016 18.31%
---- -----
2017 47.89%
---- -----
The top five industries that overseas returnees chose to start businesses were communications, software and IT services, wholesale and retail, education, manufacturing, and leasing and business services.
Top five industries to start own business
-----------------------------------------
Industry Percentage
-------- ----------
Communications, software and IT services 16.90%
---------------------------------------- -----
Wholesale and retail 15.49%
-------------------- -----
Education 11.27%
--------- -----
Manufacturing 8.45%
------------- ----
Leasing and business services 8.45%
----------------------------- ----
For their entrepreneurship endeavors, the supports they needed were: market development (41%); favorable environment for entrepreneurship (35%); financial services (34%); and entrepreneurship mentoring (25%).
Supports needed for entrepreneurship
------------------------------------
Support Male Female Overall
------- ---- ------ -------
Market
development 33% 54% 41%
------------ --- --- ---
Favorable
environment
for
entrepreneurship 37% 32% 35%
----------------- --- --- ---
Financial
services 37% 29% 34%
--------- --- --- ---
Entrepreneurship
mentoring 21% 32% 25%
---------------- --- --- ---
HR services 23% 14% 20%
----------- --- --- ---
Patent
protection 19% 11% 15%
----------- --- --- ---
R&D 7% 25% 14%
--- --- --- ---
Legal support 12% 11% 11%
------------- --- --- ---
Management
consulting
services 5% 14% 8%
----------- --- --- ---
Tax
incentives 12% 4% 8%
----------- --- --- ---
Technology
transfer 9% 4% 7%
---------- --- --- ---
Other
supporting
policies 5% 0% 3%
----------- --- --- ---
The challenges these entrepreneurs were facing included: high operation cost (56%); unfamiliarity with domestic market (38%); and difficulty raising capital (37%).
Challenges for entrepreneurship
-------------------------------
Challenge Male Female Overall
--------- ---- ------ -------
High
operation
cost 44% 75% 56%
---------- --- --- ---
Unfamiliarity
with domestic
market 35% 43% 38%
-------------- --- --- ---
Difficulty
raising
capital 40% 32% 37%
---------- --- --- ---
Related
entrepreneurial
services not
in place 28% 25% 27%
---------------- --- --- ---
Government
related
policies not
complete 21% 21% 21%
------------- --- --- ---
Difficult for
technology
conversion 14% 11% 13%
------------- --- --- ---
Not supported
by domestic
R&D 12% 4% 8%
------------- --- --- ---
Difficult for
international
expansion 7% 4% 6%
-------------- --- --- ---
Others 2% 0% 1%
------ --- --- ---
Overseas.zhaopin.com is Zhaopin's overseas talent recruitment business, helping bridge China's companies with overseas talent through online recruitment, campus activities and job fairs. Overseas.zhaopin.com has accumulated deep understanding of local company overseas recruiting demand, and helps overseas returnees identify suitable career development path. It is also a member of The Network, the world's largest online recruitment alliance, which covers 138 countries with 59 HR service providers and over 356 million resumes.
For more information, please contact:
Zhaopin Limited
Ms. Serena Sun
roujia.sun@zhaopin.com.cn
ICR Beijing
Mr. Edmond Lococo
Phone: +86 10 6583-7510
Edmond.Lococo@icrinc.com
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