(Yicai Global) June 7 -- Firms working in China’s foreign trade sector are finding it a challenge to meet their hiring needs at a time when the sector is enjoying a post-pandemic resurgence.

The number of jobs on offer in the sector rose 11.2 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier, but the number of applications slumped 35.6 percent, according to a report online recruitment services provider Zhaopin published today.

China’s imports reached USD218.39 billion last month, 51.1 percent higher than a year ago and up 8.4 percentage points from the previous month, according to new data from the General Administration of Customs. Exports totaled USD263.92 billion, a year-on-year gain of 27.9 percent. The total value of imports and exports was USD482.31 billion, an increase of 37.4 percent.

But the strong recovery has not boosted job seekers’ confidence in the foreign trade sector, the report said. It has long been seen as a field with relatively low appeal, and China-US trade friction in recent years has not made it any more attractive.

The sector’s need for talent has surged amid China's achievements in pandemic prevention and control, as well as its development of more complete industrial manufacturing systems, Yao Kai, director of the Global Scientific and Innovation Talent Development Research Center of Fudan University, told Yicai Global.

Another key reason for the talent shortage, according to Yao, is that colleges and universities have limited ability when it comes to training graduates for jobs in international trade.

Editor: Tom Litting