(ECNS) -- Salaries in China's second-tier cities rose higher than top-tier ones in 2015, but the gap between them is still widening, according to a survey released by China International Intellectech Corporation (CIIC).
Overall, salaries in China increased by 8 percent in 2015, slightly lower than 8.6 percent in 2014, indicating a slowing down of momentum.
Pang Limin, deputy general manager of CIIC's human capital survey center, said many companies, such as those in the fields of high technology, Internet and finance, have moved businesses back to second-tier cities to take advantage of favorable investment policies.
Companies are also providing attractive packages to retain their employees in the transition process, Pang added.
In comparison with the metropolises of Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, China's financial hub of Shanghai saw its salary growth basically stable at 7.9 percent, 0.4 percentage points lower than in 2014.
Newly emerged finance and high-tech sectors led the salary increases, while manufacturing and real estate sectors had the lowest growth.
Driven by an increasing demand for pharmaceutical professionals and further development of China's healthcare system, the pharmaceutical industry recorded a growth of 9.2 percent, Pang said.
