Job search continues as outbreak ebbs

Most enterprises have been on track to resume operations, as novel coronavirus epidemic control efforts bear fruit in China. This, in turn, has led to new activity in the job market.

Job vacancies increased 17.82 percent and resume submissions surged 39.04 percent from March 2 to 6, according to a report conducted by online recruitment platform Zhaopin during the first week of March.

Hiring and candidate searching in micro-enterprises with fewer than 20 employees and small enterprises between 20 to 99 employees saw further growth from last week, with the figures rising 20.49 and 21.38 percent in job vacancies respectively, as well as 43.42 percent and 41.88 percent in resume submissions.

The job market is warming up in Wuhan, the outbreak's epicenter, with job vacancies up 5.43 percent and resume submissions rising 55.97 percent.

Top industries for recruitment include real estate, construction, building materials and engineering, with more than 20 resumes submitted for each position.

Tech-related industries including software, internet, e-commerce, and IT service are also popular among job seekers.

Impacted by the epidemic, enterprises will strengthen information construction and boost digital transformation. Subsequently, enterprise-level technical services will be in high demand.

The average enterprise salary reached 8,937 yuan ($1,287), up 0.69 percent from last week, breaking the trend of weekly declines for the first time since the resumption of work in 2020.

The online game industry surpassed the finance industry to become the top high-paying area, with average salaries hitting 12,158 yuan.

People in self-quarantine due to the outbreak have driven growth in the online games industry, and as this growth enters a mature stage, the competition for talent will also intensify, the report said.

Beijing remains the city with the highest average salary for five consecutive weeks, 12,024 yuan per month.