Lifestyle
As businesses across China are ramping up production or operation after the end of the Spring Festival holiday season earlier this month, east China's affluent coastal Zhejiang Province has taken proactive steps to connect job seekers with eager employers.
Numerous "gig markets" across the province are buzzing with recruitment activity, offering complimentary services such as free breakfasts and transportation to help migrant workers return to work swiftly and ensure a successful start for local companies.
In Beilun District of Ningbo -- a major port city of China, the Xinqie sub-district gig market opens its doors to job seekers promptly at 06:00 each day. Companies in sectors like landscaping and food production offer over a hundred jobs per day, attracting a throng of eager applicants.
To facilitate meaningful discussions between potential employees and employers, the market provides free breakfasts. This efficient system allows successful candidates to sign contracts and commence work immediately.
Meanwhile, in the coastal city of Wenling's Binhai New City, the local gig market supplements traditional in-person recruitment with continuous livestreaming sessions. These online broadcasts showcase a variety of roles, from general laborers and technicians to clerical positions.
"I saw him on the livestream and he seemed quite reliable, so I came here. He provided relatively detailed information about the job, the food, and the accommodation," said job seeker Lin Xijian.
The Wenling gig market goes the extra mile by offering free transportation to those interested in positions advertised online.
"If employees are within a 20-kilometer radius, we can send a car to pick them up. We provide free dormitory accommodation and even offer basic training and orientation," said Fan Hailong, the market administrator.
Zhejiang has already established 68 provincial-level gig markets and plans to continue connecting job seekers with employment opportunities through both online and offline channels.
Zhejiang is one of the richest and most developed provinces in China, ranking the fourth in terms of the GDP among the 31 provincial-level regions in the Chinese mainland.