With an improving economy in China, there will be more active job seekers in the first quarter of this year, the recent Hays Quarterly Report found.

Some sectors have ambitious hiring plans, such as life sciences. New companies aiming to gain a strong foothold in China are also recruiting actively.

In the property market, employers are looking for the next generation of leaders capable of critical decision making. They are also ramping up hiring in second and third-tier cities where the real-estate market still has room to grow.

With a talent shortage in some industries, such as IT, employers are looking at overseas candidates.

However, salaries do not always match the expectations of overseas candidates, hence the perennial talent shortage.

In some cases, employers are willing to offer higher salaries, such as to senior candidates with advanced skills or specialized expertise. At the same time, some employers are implementing training programs and retention plans to help grow talent internally.

Additionally, on the whole, the number of overseas candidates interested in working in China is on the rise, particularly in the construction industry. Foreign architects and designers continue to arrive in China looking for opportunities. The majority of candidates are from Europe.

As the Chinese market is faring better than others, overseas returnees also continue to seek opportunities in the world's second-largest economy.

Skilled and experienced professionals in areas of high demand have become far more selective about the companies and positions they will consider. They are taking longer to think about roles and will wait for the ideal position to become available, said Simon Lance, regional director of Hays in China.

"Candidates are also putting more emphasis on the brand and reputation of a company when considering their next career move. Entry and mid-level candidates tend to look at the scope of development in a new company and senior-level candidates assess the cultural fit and salary package on offer. In the sales industry, however, more candidates are looking for a bigger career platform and support from the company rather than salary increase," he said.

shijing@chinadaily.com.cn