China’s explosive economic growth means that more executives will be heading to the country this year, new research shows.
According to a study, Emerging Trends in Global Mobility: China, conducted by consultancy Cendant Mobility, businesses in China are undergoing a period of significant change as they recruit and develop talent for overseas assignments and locate operations in new cities.
While executive assignments to China’s traditional business centres such as Shanghai and Beijing will increase, companies also plan to move employees to other cities such as Chengdu, Dalian and Chongging.
International firms are recruiting talent within the country, where few workers have managerial backgrounds or experience in working for non-Chinese companies. To fill the gap, “non-traditional assignment approaches will increase”, said Lisa Johnson, director of consulting services for Cendant Mobility.
These include more short-term assignments, hiring Chinese nationals who are currently living outside the country, as well as ethnic Chinese executives who originate from Hong Kong, Taiwan or South East Asia.