SLOW TRANSFORMATION IN CHINA’S FAST PACED TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY

The impositions and lockdown caused by the global pandemic saw China’s technology sector slow in 2020, as companies in the region reconsidered IT programmes. However, as China embraces the new normal and economies regroup, the coming year will see the technology sector slowly forge ahead, with domestic AI and Big Data products at the forefront.

 

“One of the most striking trends that we have noted in recent months is the proliferation of domestic IT products developed for the China market,” says Simon Lance, Managing Director at Hays Greater China. “This is in part driven by cost cutting necessity in these uncertain times, but it also highlights the recognition of the suitability of domestic technology for a domestic market, particularly in how it operates in vertical industries such as financial services or education.”

 

Encouraged by numerous diverse governmental initiatives, China has set its sights upon becoming a world leader in AI by 2030, and though the internet giants are perhaps the most prominent private organisations investing in the area, there is a growing trend of AI start-up companies entering the market.

 

“We have noted with great interest the way in which many senior professionals in the AI sector have identified gaps in the market and, utilising their technical knowhow, their local market connections and capital at their disposal, many of China’s ‘unicorns’ are now AI start-ups,” continues Simon.

 

“And this is, we feel, just the start. The AI sector will go from strength to strength and, as it focuses on the domestic market, the necessity for local candidates will only intensify.”

Similar transformations are being seen in the Big Data space, as here too there is a drive for more China-centric technology to feed an ever-growing demand. 

 

“As Big Data needs increase, the candidate pool becomes notably shallower, creating greater talent shortage,” says Simon. “To rectify this, we are seeing universities offer more Big Data courses and establish company partnerships in order to integrate graduates into the workforce. However, until there is enough local talent to go around, we will continue to see recruitment from overseas, especially from North America.”

 

As the technology industry is one in which the application of cutting-edge technology is standard, younger professionals are regularly employed, yet over the past 12 months the pursuit of youth has become even more apparent.

 

“It is no longer unusual to see level 4.1 managers under the age of 35, or even very senior managers under 40 in IT/DT companies. This is understandable, as it is presumed that these younger professionals are not only more in touch with the latest technological advancements but are in better condition to withstand the physical and mental demands inherent in this fast-paced industry, especially the long hours that employees are expected to work,” adds Simon.

 

“And while this may be true, younger employees are increasingly reluctant to subscribe to the 996 working culture. As a result, some companies looking to attract the best of these bright young candidates promote relaxed working conditions, with the introduction of the ‘big week/small week’ practice just one of the ways in which companies are appealing to younger jobseekers.”

 

Implementing these innovative attraction strategies is of increasing importance for internet and e-commerce companies that require niche skills in a candidate short market.

 

“Finding technologically adept AI and Big Data professionals is proving to be a challenge, especially for senior roles and data scientists, which is why many DT-related positions are being outsourced to candidates from the U.S. or Singapore,” continues Simon.

 

“Junior roles such as data analyst, data scientist and data engineers who have strong experience in motion learning, deep learning or prediction modelling are highly in demand, especially if they are proficient in Python, R, Power BI and Dashboard. If they can combine these technical skills with a passion for exploring innovative ideas and building extraordinary products, then they will find themselves at the top of recruitment wish lists.

 

“And if they can identify these candidates, employers are recommended to move quickly, as they will not remain available for long. Furthermore, companies wishing to progress will find augmenting headcounts with regularity advantageous, as by bringing new professionals you also add new ideas, leading to innovation, advancement and expansion.”

 

 

•    Companies wishing to recruit international candidates are looking to do so through initiating a more open business culture.
•    Digital companies are turning to contract workers in order to augment headcounts, a move away from traditional recruitment practices.
•    Companies are putting into practice improved training programmes and furnishing IT sales staff with greater product knowledge to ensure that employees are not only able to maintain client relationships, but also provide in-depth product knowledge.
•    Sales professionals wishing to progress careers are unlikely to do so unless they have high-level English proficiency. 

 

To download the full Inside Story of Technology in China report, please click here. 

 

 

 

Hays Specialist Recruitment (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. is one of China's leading recruitment companies in recruiting qualified, professional and skilled people across a wide range of industries and professions. 

 

Hays has been in China for over a decade with operational offices in Shanghai, Beijing, Suzhou, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. We boast a track record of success and growth, dealing in permanent positions across 14 different specialisms, including Accountancy & Finance, Banking & Financial Services, Digital Technology, Engineering, Finance Technology, Human Resources, Information Technology, Legal, Life Sciences, Marketing & Digital, Office Professionals, Procurement, Supply Chain and Sales. Hays China was named Best Workplace™ and Best Workplaces™ for Women in Greater China 2019, and recently ranked one of the the Best Workplaces™ in Asia by Great Place to Work®.

 

 

Hays plc (the "Group") is a leading global professional recruiting group. The Group is the expert at recruiting qualified, professional and skilled people worldwide, being the market leader in the UK and Australia and one of the market leaders in Continental Europe, Latin America and Asia. The Group operates across the private and public sectors, dealing in permanent positions, contract roles and temporary assignments. As at 30 June 2020 the Group employed c.10,400 staff operating from 266 offices in 33 countries across 20 specialisms. For the year ended 30 June 2020:

 

–    the Group reported net fees of £996.2 million and operating profit (pre-exceptional items) of £135.0 million;
–    the Group placed around 66,000 candidates into permanent jobs and around 235,000 people into temporary roles;
–    17% of Group net fees were generated in Australia & New Zealand, 26% in Germany, 23% in United Kingdom & Ireland and 34% in Rest of World (RoW);
–    the temporary placement business represented 59% of net fees and the permanent placement business represented 41% of net fees;
–    IT is the Group’s largest specialism, with 25% of net fees, while Accountancy & Finance (15%) and Construction & Property (12%), are the next largest
–    Hays operates in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, the UK and the USA