In recent years, “overseas employment” has become a hot topic among Chinese professionals in the workplace. With the global expansion of Chinese multinational enterprises such as Huawei, ByteDance and BYD, more and more jobs are opened to overseas markets. Data shows that in 2023, Chinese companies will have over 3 million direct employees overseas, an increase of 45% compared to five years ago. This trend not only reflects the internationalization process of Chinese enterprises, but also provides unprecedented “overseas employment” opportunities for job seekers. This article will deeply analyze this phenomenon from the perspectives of market demand, industry distribution, job search strategies, and future trends.
The driving factors behind the overseas employment boom
The globalization strategy of Chinese enterprises is accelerating
In the past decade, the globalization layout of Chinese enterprises has shifted from “product export” to “full industry chain going global”. The industries represented by new energy, Internet and infrastructure quickly penetrate markets in Southeast Asia, Europe, Africa, etc. through mergers and acquisitions, factory establishment, and the establishment of research and development centers. For example, BYD invested in building a factory in Thailand, and Huawei established a 5G innovation center in Germany, directly creating tens of thousands of localized positions, while also requiring a large number of Chinese employees to participate in management, technology output, and cross-cultural collaboration.
In this process, the demand for “overseas employment” has evolved from the traditional overseas assignment model to diversified employment forms, including long-term overseas assignments, short-term project-based work, remote collaboration, etc.
The intensification of international talent competition
According to a McKinsey report, by 2030, the global shortage of highly skilled labor may reach 85 million people. Chinese companies must attract talents who are familiar with the local market, language, and regulations in order to seize market share. For example, TikTok prioritizes Chinese employees with bilingual abilities when recruiting content review teams in North America; Xiaomi has recruited a large number of local engineers in the Indian market and dispatched a Chinese team for technical training
Data support: In 2023, 30% of overseas recruitment positions for Chinese multinational companies require “cross-cultural communication skills”, an increase of 12% compared to 2020.
Policy support and personal development needs
The Chinese government provides tax preference and investment convenience for enterprises to go to sea through the “the Belt and Road” initiative, RCEP agreement and other policies. At the same time, competition in the domestic workplace is intensifying, and young people are more inclined to raise their career ceiling through “overseas employment”. A survey shows that 78% of respondents believe that overseas work experience can significantly enhance resume competitiveness.
Which industries are releasing overseas employment opportunities?
New energy and green technology
China has taken a leading position globally in fields such as photovoltaics, electric vehicles, and battery technology. CATL invests 7.3 billion euros to establish a battery factory in Hungary, with an expected need for 2000 employees by 2025; Longi Green Energy continues to recruit engineers and supply chain experts for its base in Malaysia.
Job types: Technical R&D, Project Management, Overseas Sales.
This type of enterprise releases “overseas employment” positions, with a particular emphasis on technical background and English proficiency.
Internet and digital economy
ByteDance SHEIN、 Companies such as Pinduoduo (Temu) have opened up overseas markets through cross-border e-commerce and social media platforms. Taking Temu as an example, its US team expanded by 500 operations and marketing personnel in 2023, of which 40% were employees sent from China.
Trend analysis: The demand for digital jobs (such as data analysis and user growth) has surged, and most of them support remote work, further reducing the geographical threshold for “overseas employment”.
Infrastructure and Manufacturing Industry
Central state-owned enterprises such as China Communications Construction and China Railway Construction need a large number of engineering management and technical talents to undertake port and railway projects in Africa and the Middle East. In addition, home appliance companies such as Haier and Midea have set up factories overseas to promote the “localized production+Chinese management” model.
Case: Haier employs over 10000 local employees in its industrial park in Pakistan, while deploying 200 Chinese engineers to provide technical support.
How to seize overseas employment opportunities?
Accurately locate the target market
- Emerging markets: Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and other regions have strong demand, but relatively less competition.
- Developed countries: The job threshold in Europe and America is relatively high, but the salary and career development space are greater.
- Suggestion: Track job dynamics in real-time through LinkedIn, corporate websites, or professional recruitment platforms (such as Zhaopin Overseas Edition).
Enhance core competitiveness
- Language proficiency: English is the foundation, and minor languages such as Arabic and Spanish can become a differentiation advantage.
- Cross cultural adaptability: Companies focus more on whether candidates can collaborate efficiently in diverse teams.
- Technical certification: For example, Huawei certified ICT engineers are highly competitive in overseas projects.
Make good use of policies and resources
Government project: The Ministry of Commerce’s “Overseas Talent Training Program” provides training and subsidies for candidates.
Internal promotion: Many companies prioritize selecting expatriate employees from their domestic headquarters, resulting in a higher success rate for internal job transfers.
Challenges and coping strategies for overseas employment
Cultural Conflict and Life Adaptation
Overseas employees often face issues such as language barriers, dietary differences, and social isolation. Enterprises alleviate pressure through “cultural integration training” and localized benefits such as housing subsidies and family relocation.
Case: A central enterprise hires local chefs for its African project team and sets up Chinese language learning classes to promote the integration of Chinese and foreign employees.
Uncertainty in career development
Some positions have problems such as short contract terms and unclear promotion paths. It is recommended that job seekers clarify their career plans before signing contracts and prioritize choosing companies that provide job rotation mechanisms or cross-border promotion channels.
Legal and Security Risks
In some regions, the political environment is complex and requires prior understanding of labor laws, tax policies, and security situations. For example, some countries in the Middle East have strict visa restrictions for foreign employees.
Future Trends: How will overseas employment evolve?
Normalization of remote work
After the COVID-19 epidemic, the mixed office model was widely accepted. Enterprises may reduce long-term expatriate positions and instead increase flexible employment forms such as “short-term business trips+remote support”.
Explosive demand for technical positions
The deepening of global collaboration in fields such as artificial intelligence and blockchain makes it easier for candidates with technical backgrounds to receive high paying job offers.
Give equal importance to localization and globalization
In the future, enterprises not only need overseas talents who understand China, but also need to cultivate Chinese teams who understand the world. For example, Xiaomi’s success in the Indian market cannot be separated from transnational talents who understand both the logic of Chinese products and the habits of Indian users.
Conclusion: Overseas employment is not only an opportunity, but also a springboard for upgrading abilities
Behind the wave of “overseas employment” is a direct reflection of China’s economic strength and global influence of enterprises. For individuals, this is not only a new path for career development, but also an excellent opportunity to broaden their horizons and enhance their overall abilities. Whether you are a recent graduate or a career seeker seeking transformation, only by planning ahead and continuing to learn can you seize the opportunity in the wave of globalization.
Action suggestion: Update your resume immediately, follow the overseas recruitment page of the target company, or sign up for international job training courses offered by professional organizations (such as EF Overseas Job Camp) to take the first step towards global career development.