The direction of young people has long been seen as a bellwether of industrial development. The willingness of graduates to work in manufacturing continues to increase, according to data from recruitment agencies. Many manufacturing enterprises have received a substantial increase in the number of graduate resumes, and some advanced manufacturing enterprises have become the “cake” in the job market.

Why are young people moving from “leaving manufacturing” to “joining manufacturing”? What are the industrial changes and changes behind the tide of talent flow?

With “high precision” as the goal, manufacturing has become a new choice for college students

On Oct 25, the biggest graduate job fair in Shanghai in autumn was held at Shanghai Second Polytechnic University. Nearly half of the 1,325 recruiters were high-tech companies, attracting about 25,000 graduates. In the state-owned assets and “speciality new” sectors, long lines formed at company booths. “The main business represents the future of sunrise industries, scientific and creative enterprises, relatively potential, the salary is also good.” Xiao Yuan, a third-year energy and materials major at Shanghai Second University of Technology, sent out multiple resumes and had his first interview with his favorite company on the spot.

Like the whole country, the number of university graduates in Shanghai will continue to increase in 2024. Under pressure, many graduates choose to start early, blaze a trail and focus more on cutting-edge industries and high-tech fields.

According to data from Liepin University, as of the end of April, among the ten industry tracks with the fastest growth in the number of graduates delivered in 2023, intelligent manufacturing, AIGC(generative artificial intelligence) and AI large model ranked the top three, with year-on-year growth of 303.12%, 297.27% and 235.25% respectively.

From the perspective of the share change of the express delivery industry, the Internet and real estate industries declined from 28.92% and 12.86% in 2021 to 19.39% and 7.85% in 2023. Machinery manufacturing increased from 4.47% in 2021 to 9.14% in 2023, with the most obvious upward trend among the 15 industries.

Zhang Bo, director of the employment guidance service center of Xidian University, told reporters that the number of graduates entering the manufacturing industry in 2023 was 1266, accounting for 26.64%, a record high.

The “new air mouth” of the industry opens a new space for employment

Some young people “from virtual to real”, not only in the face of fierce employment competition transformation and adjustment, but also for the development prospects of digital intelligence in the manufacturing industry have understanding and expectations.

“Graduates are increasingly favored and willing to increase employment, and are leading enterprises in advanced manufacturing, strategic emerging industries, especially new energy, integrated circuits, industrial automation and other industries.” In these industries and enterprises, compared with the traditional manufacturing industry, they prefer to work in the construction, management, operation and maintenance of digital workshops and smart factories.” Hunting vice president put Ran said.

In the past two years, China has continued to build itself into a manufacturing powerhouse, and investment in high-tech manufacturing has maintained double-digit growth. In Zhan Ran’s view, a number of high-tech and resilient emerging industries such as electric motors, automobiles, electronic and communication equipment came into being, and many young people saw new employment options and new development space.

Ma Fuhai, deputy general manager of human resources Department of Xi ‘an Longji Green Energy Technology Co., LTD., a leading enterprise, introduced: “The company’s performance continues to grow rapidly, and the demand for employees, especially engineers, continues to increase. The class of 2023 will enroll more than 9,000 students, a 50 percent increase from last year.”

While generating new employment growth points, many young people are “excited” by the good salaries and career prospects brought by new industries, new technologies and new models.

According to Liepin big data, among the 10 new tracks with the largest number of recruits, 8 enroll 2023 graduates with an average annual salary of more than 150,000 yuan; Intelligent manufacturing, AIGC, AI large model of the three “gold content” of the highest track, the average annual salary of 338,200 yuan, 303,600 yuan, 279,900 yuan.

In the context of the construction of nearly 10,000 digital workshops and smart factories in China, the impression of some young people on manufacturing is also changing.