(ECNS) - University graduates are finding China's top-tier cities less appealing and are starting to look for careers in smaller equivalents, China Youth News reports.
A recent survey shows that even though Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen remain the top four destinations for aspiring college graduates, more than 60 percent of young people plan to return home after graduation.
The survey, conducted by MyCOS Research Institute, a China-based consulting firm, indicates that employment locations for graduates are diversifying with Hangzhou, Kunming, Hefei and Chengdu becoming increasingly popular potential destinations for new job seekers.
Li Si, a graduate student from Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, who has refused a job offer from a famous Beijing-based company in favor of working in Chengdu, said "I have higher demands for the city I live in.
"Apart from economic development, it should have delicious food, good places to socialize, beautiful natural scenery, and a long and rich cultural history - Chengdu is such a place for me."
Another graduate, Hu Yi, from China University of Mining and Technology, said "I would like to work in Kunming because of its good climate, rapid development and proximity to my hometown.
"In addition to my career potential, I also like to consider general quality of life, and Kunming is my dream city."
Many people are moving from top-tier cities to smaller towns for a less stressful lifestyle, says Xiong Hanzhong, the director of Beijing Youth Stress Management Service Center.
"This phenomenon can be advantageous as college graduates can enjoy more development opportunities in lower-tier cities."
Xu Bohan, the director of Careers Services at Beijing Forestry University, also notes the proportion of graduates choosing to work in Beijing has continued to drop in recent years. Rapidly developing areas, namely the Yangtze and Pearl River Deltas, are becoming new preferred places for university graduates.
