context: Following the 2025 Chinese New Year, AI company DeepSeek gained widespread attention both domestically and internationally, while Unitree Robotics’ humanoid robot captivated audiences during the CCTV Spring Festival Gala. The rise of these emerging tech firms and their groundbreaking products has fueled a post-holiday surge in AI-related recruitment.
Leipin.com's report highlights a sharp rise in demand for white-collar technical positions, particularly in AI-related fields. Algorithm engineers and system engineers saw a y-o-y job posting increase of over 20 percent, reflecting a broader market trend in AI-driven industries. This increase is seen as a direct response to the emergence of new AI products and technological breakthroughs.
Ba Ran 把冉 Liepin vice president commented that the launch of AI innovations such as DeepSeek has further fueled the ongoing AI boom, intensifying the demand for skilled professionals.
The automotive sector has also seen an increase in technical hiring. The rapid growth of new energy vehicles and intelligent connected vehicles has driven demand for chassis engineers and automotive electronics/electrical engineers, with job postings for these positions increasing by over 15 percent y-o-y.
AI-related roles also offer competitive compensation
- 88.53 percent of algorithm engineering roles provide annual salaries exceeding C¥200,000, highlighting the premium placed on AI talent
- driven by a shortage in AI professionals
- McKinsey reports that by 2030, the PRC will require 6 million AI professionals, but the industry may experience a talent shortfall of up to 4 million, indicating a critical gap between industry needs and available expertise
The qualifications required for AI-related positions vary across companies. Some firms maintain strict academic requirements, while other companies adopt a more flexible approach to expand their talent pool. Candidates with these skills and backgrounds would also be assesed in
- statistics, mathematics and business-related fields
- a strong mathematical foundation
- proficiency in at least one programming language
- experience with data analysis tools
- emphasis on soft skills
- innovative thinking
- passion for AI development
- strong communication abilities