Job seekers read recruitment information at a job fair for college graduates in Jinhua City, east China's Zhejiang Province, July 21, 2023. (Photo: Xinhua)

According to data released by a recruitment big data research institute on Wednesday, Beijing has the highest monthly salary for college graduates in China in 2023, with the artificial intelligence industry offering the most competitive salaries. 

Compared to the class of 2022, recruitment and expected salaries for the class of 2023 have slightly decreased, but have significantly increased compared to the class of 2021. 

The average monthly salary for job positions for the class of 2021 was 9,292 yuan ($1,272), while for the class of 2023, it is 10,342 yuan, an increase of 1,050 yuan over the past three years. The expected monthly salary for college graduates in 2021 was 7,417 yuan, while for the class of 2023, it stood at 8,033 yuan, an increase of 616 yuan over the past three years.

By observing the demand for different educational backgrounds among hiring positions for the class of 2023 in various industries, it is found that the demand for bachelor’s degree holders is highest in the IT or gaming industry at 18.7 percent. The mechanical and manufacturing, scientific research and technical services, electronics and semiconductor and medical industries rank second to fifth, accounting for over 8 percent.

In terms of the average monthly salary for hiring roles for the class of 2023 across a number of industries, artificial intelligence ranks first at 18,592 yuan. Blockchain, aged care, and aerospace equipment rank second to fourth with 17,467 yuan, 16,992 yuan, and 16,042 yuan respectively.

In terms of the average monthly salary for the class of 2023, Beijing remains the highest at 13,283 yuan. Shenzhen and Shanghai rank second and third with 12,783 yuan and 12,317 yuan respectively. Hangzhou, Hefei, Nanjing, Xi’an, and Suzhou cover fourth to eighth place, all above the overall average monthly salary for the class of 2023.

Looking at the growth rate of recent years in terms of the number of applications from new graduates in different tiers of cities, new first-tier cities rank first with a growth rate of 431.9 percent. Second and third-tier cities rank second with a growth rate of 299.7 percent. First-tier cities rank third with a growth rate of 294.1 percent.

Some netizens said that the higher salaries also mean a stricter selection process, and the requirements for fresh graduates to master vocational skills are becoming higher.

Global Times