More than 146,000 new jobs were created in Shanghai in the first quarter, a year-on-year increase of 7,600. This growth reflects strong employment momentum backed by over 680 recruitment events held across the city, which collectively offered 182,000 job openings  — up 20 percent from the same period last year, according to the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security.

Two notable hiring trends have emerged from recent recruitment activities.

First, there is surging demand in Shanghai's three leading industries — artificial intelligence, integrated circuits and biomedicine. Companies specializing in large AI models and robotics are especially eager to hire, offering a large number of positions with increasingly competitive salaries.

Second, private enterprises are becoming a major driver of recruitment demand. Thanks to supportive policies, industrial restructuring and technological advances, private enterprises now account for more than 60 percent of companies participating in job fairs.

To improve access to employment services, Shanghai has set up 355 "15-minute employment service circle" stations, aiming to offer job-seeking support within walking distance for residents.

This year, the city's pool of university graduates is expected to reach a record 246,000. Employers hiring graduates in their final academic year, those who left school within the past two years without securing a job, or unemployed youth aged 16 to 24, can receive a one-time subsidy of 1,500 yuan ($210) per person. Small and micro-sized enterprises, as well as social organizations hiring recent graduates, are also eligible for social insurance subsidies for up to one year.

To further support working mothers, companies that continue paying social insurance contributions for female employees during maternity and childbirth leave may receive a 50-percent subsidy on those payments for six months, starting from the month of childbirth.

Shanghai's pilot program for "family-friendly jobs", launched in December last year, is also gaining traction. These positions feature flexible schedules, adaptable work arrangements and a supportive environment, and are primarily intended for workers raising children under the age of 12. To date, more than 4,000 people have benefited from the initiative.

Source: Official WeChat account of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security at "shrsjwx"