(ECNS) -- An investigation by the Information Monitoring Center at China's Human Resource Market shows that despite it being easier for job hunters to apply for work in western China, they still shift to the east, People's Daily reported on Monday.
Research also shows demand for a vocation was greater than supply in over 100 cities during the fourth quarter of 2015. The ratios of job vacancies to job applicants in eastern, central, and western China are 1.08, 1.13, and 1.13 respectively, it was added.
Job seekers still prefer to work in eastern China mainly because the salary level is higher than in the west and central areas.
Data released by Zhaopin.com, one of China's most popular career platforms, shows the top five cities paying the highest salaries are Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, and Guangzhou, which are all situated in eastern China.
However, wage levels in southwest megacities, namely Chengdu and Chongqing, have increased steadily over the last decade, driven by rapid economic growth.
In terms of sector demand, the biggest needs for talent are in the manufacturing industry (33.9 percent), wholesale and retail trade (14.2 percent), hotels and catering (10.6 percent), residential and other services (10.2 percent), leasing and business services (7.2 percent), information transmission, computer services and software industries (4.6 percent), and the construction industry (3.7 percent).
The situation is closely related to an industry's economic increase and the supply and demand relationship in a sector, it was added.
