From March 15 to 16, the Canton Fair Complex in Guangzhou was bustling with activity as the "Million Talents Converge in South China" 2026 Spring Large-Scale Comprehensive Job Fair took place. The event, held along the Pearl River, marked an important initiative for Guangdong to stabilize employment, improve livelihoods, and attract top talent at the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan period.

Themed "Gathering Talents in Guangdong, Meeting the Future," the job fair was a major response to the province's goal of absorbing over one million new college graduates. Nearly 2,000 high-quality employers participated, offering more than 85,000 positions and attracting over 150,000 job seekers from across the country. These numbers reflect Guangdong's strong commitment to attracting talent with the "greatest sincerity, best policies, and finest services."

The 15th Five-Year Plan period is crucial for laying the foundation and driving comprehensive progress toward socialist modernization. National human resources and social security conferences have emphasized the need to accelerate employment-friendly development, implement job stability and expansion initiatives, focus on key groups, and enhance the quality and efficiency of employment services.

As a major economic and employment province, Guangdong is using the "Million Talents Converge in South China" campaign as a key measure to build a large, high-quality, and versatile talent pool aligned with future development needs.

The job fair featured specialized zones for advanced manufacturing sectors such as low-altitude economy and commercial aerospace, artificial intelligence and robotics, new-generation electronics, and automotive and new energy industries.

What draws talent to South China? The answer lies in the region's vibrant industrial landscape. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is rapidly building a modern industrial system with a strong foundation. It encompasses all 31 major manufacturing categories and has nurtured 10 trillion-yuan industrial clusters, including new-generation electronics, modern light industry and textiles, and advanced materials. Half of its 20 strategic industrial clusters have output values exceeding one trillion yuan.

This industrial strength has not only supported Guangdong's 37-year run as China's top provincial economy but also generated massive demand for talent. From traditional industry upgrades to emerging sectors, Guangdong is advancing industrial transformation with unprecedented depth and breadth.

Looking ahead, the province is strategically developing new growth areas. At the job fair, humanoid robots from XPeng interacted with visitors, GAC's fourth-generation embodied robots demonstrated agility, and vivo's mixed reality headsets immersed users in blended virtual and real worlds. Nearly 100 cutting-edge technological products were showcased, allowing job seekers to explore high-tech roles while experiencing innovations firsthand.

Future industries such as artificial intelligence, low-altitude economy, biomanufacturing, and commercial aerospace are becoming new talent magnets in Guangdong. While industrial strength attracts talent, a favorable environment retains it. The phrase "Go to Guangdong for development" reflects the province's appeal to aspiring professionals.

Guangdong's advantages include a highly mature market environment and complete industrial chains. Enterprises drive innovation, with about 90% of research institutions, personnel, R&D funding, and invention patents originating from companies. This enables rapid transformation of ideas into products and market entry, forming a core competitive edge in talent attraction.

As a senior provincial official noted during the event, Guangdong offers diverse industries, broad market opportunities, and a high quality of life, providing ample space for career growth and personal fulfillment. From the Greater Bay Area to eastern, western, and northern Guangdong, the province is extending sincere invitations to global talent across fields—from high-end R&D professionals to skilled technicians.

The 2026 job fair featured leading companies such as China Southern Power Grid, BYD, GAC, and Midea, alongside popular employers like XPeng Motors, Sunwoda, UBTECH, vivo, and Vipshop. Top research institutions and universities, including Guangzhou Laboratory and Sun Yat-sen University, also participated in the recruitment drive.

Attracting talent begins with supportive policies. From provincial-level planning to city-specific measures, Guangdong is shifting from simply offering incentives to building a systemic, talent-friendly ecosystem.

In 2025, Guangdong accelerated the development of a high-level talent hub in the Greater Bay Area, with nine scientists elected as academicians and record numbers selected for national and provincial talent programs. The "Million Talents" initiative helped over 1.1 million college graduates find employment or start businesses in the province. The number of R&D personnel reached 1.59 million, and high-skilled talent exceeded 8.43 million, both ranking first nationally.

In 2026, Guangdong will implement more proactive, open, and effective talent policies, expand the "Million Talents" campaign, and intensify efforts to attract, cultivate, and support talent regardless of background or origin. The province is also building multi-level entrepreneurial support and housing supply systems to improve working and living conditions.

At the municipal level, cities are competing with attractive policies and services. Foshan established a "Talent Day" on September 27 each year, highlighting its respect for talent. Through its "2+N" policy framework, Foshan offers substantial subsidies: top talent can receive up to 10 million yuan, while young reserve talent, postdocs, and professionals receive 200,000 to 600,000 yuan in relocation support.

Dongguan has introduced five major talent initiatives, creating a market-oriented evaluation system and an "Excellent Talent Card" that integrates housing, education, and medical services. Benefits range from 15 days of free accommodation to up to 11 million yuan in housing and comprehensive subsidies for top talent, and million-yuan support for youth entrepreneurship projects.

Notably, Dongguan extends talent services beyond recruitment to cover the entire career lifecycle. Its "12345" follow-up mechanism ensures at least two career assessments, three job matches, four phone follow-ups, and five tailored job recommendations for each applicant—transforming one-time applications into ongoing opportunities.

Guangdong's employment and talent strategies are undergoing a profound shift from policy-driven to ecosystem-focused approaches. Combining substantial support with heartfelt services, the province aims to be both a "dream factory" for career growth and a "second home" for settling down.

Employment and talent attraction rely on effective matching. Guangdong is leveraging online and offline channels, using digital tools for precision and industry-education integration to support talent development.

In the AI cloud recruitment zone at the job fair, smart employment terminals, AI interview cabins, and digital avatars for job recommendations were on display. AI systems analyzed applicants' backgrounds and preferences to recommend suitable positions. One AI service center attracted over 30,700 visitors, offering assistance with job searches, career guidance, resume optimization, and more.

While online platforms cast a wide net, offline efforts focus on targeted outreach. Guangdong's human resources departments are engaging with universities nationwide. On March 30, a multi-city recruitment event was held at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, featuring nearly 100 employers offering over 10,000 positions in fields like algorithm engineering, AI R&D, chip design, and biopharmaceuticals.

The event aligned with Guangdong's manufacturing strategy and Shenzhen's emerging industry clusters, while leveraging Shanghai Jiao Tong University's strengths in AI, biopharmaceuticals, and mechanical engineering. Shenzhen took the lead in promoting industrial cooperation, government-university-enterprise collaboration, and warm city services to attract talent from Shanghai.

Talent must not only be recruited but also nurtured. Guangdong is promoting deeper integration between industry and talent development through school-enterprise partnerships.

At the job fair, students from Shenzhen City Vocational College (Shenzhen Technician College) expressed confidence about their future employment, having participated in Sunwoda's "position + training" program, which offers direct employment upon graduation.

Sunwoda, a leader in lithium-ion batteries, reserved many of its 300-plus positions for candidates in its training pipeline rather than traditional hiring. Since November 2025, the company has trained 113 individuals and plans to train 200 more by July, focusing on key technical roles.

In Zhongshan, the establishment of recruitment alliances and industry-education integration platforms is helping bridge gaps between labor supply and demand. Local manufacturers and human resources agencies are collaborating on customized recruitment, skill development, and employment support, creating a synergistic service ecosystem.

Today, as Guangdong transitions from a major economic province to a strong economic province, it seeks talent more than ever—and offers unmatched opportunities for growth. This spring, the province rolled out the red carpet with comprehensive policy packages, welcoming global talent. Moving forward, Guangdong will continue to reform employment services and talent development mechanisms, breaking down barriers, improving channels, and optimizing ecosystems to empower more talent to thrive and contribute to the province's modernization journey.