Zero-Covid made China ‘less attractive’ to foreign talent. Can it restore its image?
- Frustration with China’s approach to the coronavirus pandemic has driven away expats and frustrated the foreign business community, recruiters say
- Bolstering hi-tech talent in particular has become more pressing as China emphasises self-sufficiency amid curbs on technological imports from the US
China’s efforts to bolster its abilities in science and engineering are being hampered by frustration among expats about the way the government handled the coronavirus pandemic, recruiters and researchers say.
Shanghai-based Jonathan Edwards, managing director at global recruitment company Antal, said many foreigners in Shanghai have left in recent years, driven away by frustration over China’s approach to the coronavirus pandemic.
Edwards said demand for foreign talent in China has slowed over the past two years and, given the global economy is weakening, the outlook for the nation’s recruitment drive is mixed.
It’s less attractive a destination as it used to be because of what happened with Covid
“I think people are waiting to see if this policy is going to stick … the number of flights is still restricted compared to how it was and also the price of flights as well,” Edwards said.