Hunan launches major recruitment drive to attract young talent

Hunan province inaugurated its 2026 recruitment campaign on Saturday with a job fair in Changsha, the provincial capital, offering over 12,900 positions.

This event, held both online and offline, is part of a broader initiative to attract college graduates and young professionals to work or start businesses in the province.

According to organizers, 655 employers participated in the main job fair in Changsha, with more than 60 percent of the 12,900 positions offering annual salaries of 100,000 yuan ($13,700) or more. Of the 12,000 corporate jobs, technical positions accounted for about 60 percent, with the largest shares in Hunan's key industries such as engineering machinery and rail transit, as well as emerging sectors like the digital economy, new energy, artificial intelligence, and quantum technology.

The event featured onsite interviews and instant-signing areas, allowing graduates to complete the entire job application process in one stop. Organizers also provided career counseling and hands-on experiences in emerging fields such as AI and drone operation.

Sany Group, a leading heavy equipment manufacturer, was recruiting for more than a dozen research and development engineering positions as well as some overseas service engineer roles, according to Ma Mengnan, a recruiter from the company.

"The graduates we met today are optimistic and energetic. We are glad to welcome them to join us," Ma said.

Beyond the main venue in Changsha, job fairs were also held simultaneously in the cities of Yueyang, Hengyang, and Huaihua, covering northern, southern, and western areas of Hunan. In total, the province aims to release about 300,000 job, internship, and training positions throughout the year.

To attract more talent, Hunan has introduced a package of favorable policies for job seekers to settle in the province. It has also launched a dedicated service platform for college graduates, integrating policy updates, job matching, and subsidy applications.

For aspiring entrepreneurs, the province plans to establish 30 new provincial-level startup incubation bases for college graduates this year, offering free workspace. A reality TV show and startup competitions will be organized to discover and support the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Chen Yi, a master's student at Hunan University who attended the job fair in Changsha, said that as a Hunan native, staying in the province after graduation would be her first choice.

"The policies, including housing and rental subsidies, make staying here an attractive option," she added.