Passenger vehicle and freight truck drivers and airplane and train crews are also badly needed, with job openings jumping by 85.2% over the same period, due to busy transport and logistics sectors following China's post-COVID reopening.
AS CHINA REOPENS, DAVOS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT GLOBAL ECONOMY
Openings in tourism services industry grew 58.9% on the abandonment of the zero-COVID regime as well as on resurgent demand during the festival season, while posting for workers in the manufacturing sector also rose 42.2%.
China's hospitality industry has seen a surge in job demand following the nation's post-COVID lockdown reopening (REUTERS/Florence Lo)
The survey was taken over Jan. 28-Feb. 2 in 38 major cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen.
Foshan, Guangzhou and Dongguan cities in southern economic powerhouse Guangdong province saw rapid year-on-year growths of overall job openings at 43.2%, 19.6% and 9.2% respectively, according to the survey. The country's biggest provincial economy aims to achieve more than 5% gross domestic product growth (GDP) in 2023 after its economy grew only 1.9% in 2022 because of frequent COVID lockdowns.
CHINA REOPENING BORDERS AFTER THREE YEARS OF 'ZERO-COVID'
About 72% of the firms surveyed said they are optimistic about China's economic development, with the relaxation of COVID curbs and prioritisation of economic growth boosting confidence.
With higher uncertainty in China's property and export sectors, however, more job hunters sought secure positions. About 33.9% of jobseekers said they would look for "stable jobs, without layoff risks", more than last year's 26.8%.
China's services activity in January expanded for the first time in five months, another private survey showed on Friday.