China's job creation rising, recruiters say

Regulations on internal audits and foreign banks in China have become stricter,and the country is moving toward a fully market-based system of interest rates, Lance said. The result is banks-starting to focus more on their transaction business and away from interest-rate differentials-will hire more product auditors and qualified transaction sales managers will be highly sought after, he said.

China is establishing five private banks on a trial basis in the cities of Tianjin and Shanghai, as well as in Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces. There will soon be more demand for private-sector banking talent, Lance said.

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The job market generally has regained momentum in the past few months, and people's attitude toward changing jobs is more optimistic in lower-tier cities than first-tier cities. Those looking for a role change in second-and third-tier cities normally expect a 20 to 30 percent salary increase. People with language and leadership skills or with solid experience behind them could get a up to 35 percent rise.

Troy, Michigan-based Kelly Services Inc found opportunities abounded in second-and third-tier Chinese cities' automotive industries as a number of sector firms shifted focus.

"There was significant hiring activity within the automotive industry with a particular demand for sales professionals in these cities," Leroy Yue, managing director of Kelly Services China, said. "With cities such as Changsha, Wuhan, Chengdu, Hangzhou and Ningbo developing rapidly, demand for talent in factory management grew."

Company re-targeting of investment meant Chengdu performed exceptionally well in lower-tier city polling and showed high hiring levels, notably in the fast-moving consumer goods, manufacturing and real estate sectors.

New stores opened rapidly, and factories were set up, resulting in particular demand for technical professionals, store managers, sales assistants, and research and development professionals, Kelly said.

"Preferential economic policies and huge market potential offered by second-and third-tier cities attracted many businesses to open shops or expand their presence, which drove a buoyant talent market," said Dong Lei, managing director at recruiter Lloyd Morgan Greater China.