The case for a skilled worker immigration system in China

Enhancing the appeal to international scientific and technological talents, providing strategic support for the Chinese path to modernization

In an article published in the 8th issue of China Scholars Abroad (CHISA) in 2024, a magazine under the auspices of the Ministry of Education of China, Henry Huiyao Wang calls for greater emphasis on retaining and attracting scientific and technological talent, advocating for the establishment of a skilled worker immigration system in China. The article is also accessible on the official WeChat blog of the Center for China and Globalization (CCG). Here is a translation of his article.

提高国际科技人才吸引力 为中国式现代化提供战略支撑

Enhancing the appeal to international scientific and technological talents, providing strategic support for the Chinese path to modernization

The 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) concluded its Third Plenary Session on July 18 with a Communique issued. According to the Communique,

It was stated that education, science and technology, and talent function as a basic and strategic underpinning for Chinese modernization. We must fully implement the strategy of invigorating China through science and education, the strategy of developing a quality workforce, and the innovation-driven development strategy, make coordinated efforts to promote integrated reform of institutions and mechanisms pertaining to education, science and technology, and human resources, and improve the new system for mobilizing resources nationwide to make key technological breakthroughs. These efforts will help boost the overall performance of China's innovation system. We will deepen comprehensive reform in education, deepen structural scientific and technological reform, and deepen institutional reforms for talent development."

Subsequently, the Plenum adopted the Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization, which provided further guidance on deepening institutional reforms for China's talent development, including statements such as

We will improve the support mechanisms for recruiting talent from overseas and create internationally competitive personnel systems. We will also explore avenues for establishing an immigration system for highly-skilled personnel.

These initiatives align with the long-standing research and advocacy efforts of CCG in talent development.

Talent is the cornerstone of innovation, the key to development, and the foundation of a strong nation. Scientific and technological talent is crucial for building a modern socialist country. As the world undergoes a new wave of technological revolution and industrial transformation, global scientific and technological innovation is evolving rapidly. At the same time, competition in science and technology has become a central battleground in the competition among major powers, with technological competitiveness emerging as a decisive factor in national strength and future competitive advantage.

In recent years, the United States has intensified its technological "decoupling" from China. This year is an election year in the U.S. Regardless of who is elected president, the trend of heightened technological competition between the United States and China seems unlikely to change. This intensifying competition places greater demands on China to significantly enhance its technological innovation capabilities and underscores the urgent need to build a high-level team of scientific and technological talent.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, General Secretary Xi Jinping has prioritized innovation as the core of the nation's development strategy, with a strong focus on scientific and technological innovation and the cultivation of young scientific and technological talents. The contribution of scientific and technological innovation to China's development has significantly increased, and the efficiency of work by scientific and technological personnel has consistently improved. By the end of 2020, China's scientific and technological human resources had reached 112.341 million, including over 50 million highly skilled talents and more than 200 million skilled workers, making China the largest and most comprehensive human resources powerhouse in the world. In the Global Innovation Index ranking, China rose from 34th place in 2012 to 12th place in 2023. According to the China Science and Technology Talent Development Report (2022), the number of full-time equivalent R&D personnel in China increased from 3.247 million in 2012 to 6.354 million in 2022, consistently ranking first worldwide.

As the scale of scientific and technological talent continues to expand, the structure of China's talent pool is also being continuously optimized. The country is accelerating the development of a strategically focused talent force characterized by clear positioning, enhanced efficiency, and a well-balanced echelon. This includes science strategists, first-class scientists and innovation teams, young scientists, and outstanding engineers.

At the same time, it is important to acknowledge that, compared to developed countries like the United States, China still lags in the global competition for international talent, particularly in attracting overseas talents in science and technology. Additionally, the issue of high-tech brain drain in China remains significant, with new challenges emerging, such as the re-emigration of returned talents.

Take artificial intelligence (AI) as an example, the China Artificial Intelligence Talent Training Report indicates the current shortage of AI talent in China's domestic artificial intelligence industry exceeds 5 million, and this shortage is expected to persist for a long time. Furthermore, research by Macro Polo, a think tank under the Paulson Institute, reveals that while China is the largest source of top-tier AI researchers, a majority of these Chinese researchers leave the country to work for American companies and universities. Among AI researchers who received their undergraduate education in China, only 34% of these Chinese researchers are currently in China, while approximately 56% are in the United States for further study. After completing graduate studies in the United States, 88% of those Chinese researchers chose to stay and work in America. This underscores the urgent need for China to intensify its efforts in cultivating, attracting, retaining, and effectively utilizing high-level scientific and technological talent so that China can build a more robust talent ecosystem and enhance its international appeal to top-tier scientific and technological professionals.

For many years, in the context of deepening globalization, international talent has been a crucial force driving innovation and entrepreneurship in developed countries and regions. For instance, during Singapore's remarkable economic growth in the 1990s, 40% of the contribution was attributed to the wisdom and labor of immigrants. In 2021, Germany received 532,000 new immigrants on a long-term or permanent basis, significantly boosting its research and development capabilities. That same year, over half (52%) of the research positions within Germany's Max Planck Society were held by foreign scholars, with a vast majority of postdoctoral and doctoral positions occupied by non-Germans.

Data from 2022 shows that the United States, as the world's largest source of remittances, sent approximately $79 billion abroad, indirectly the ongoing economic contributions of overseas immigrants to the United States to their home countries. In the same year, the U.S. issued around 1.02 million green cards, highlighting its strong appeal to international talent. Notably, in the U.S., immigrants are often at the forefront of innovation: a quarter of all startups in the U.S. are founded by immigrants, and among the top 500 global companies, 43% of companies were founded by immigrants or their children. This underscores the significant role international talent plays in driving innovation and entrepreneurship in developed countries.

In this regard, establishing a skilled worker immigration system is a crucial strategy for China to actively participate in the global competition for scientific and technological talent. It is also a key initiative in the new era to attract the brightest minds from all over and a vital step in further deepening institutional reforms for talent development. In the future, China can draw on the successful experiences of developed countries like the United States, making the skilled worker immigration system a cornerstone for attracting overseas talent. The immigration system should be integrated into national strategies such as high-standard opening-up, developing a quality workforce, and innovation-driven development, thereby reshaping China's foreign talent framework.

Efforts should be made to accelerate the digitalization of the skilled worker immigration process, enhancing convenience and security in areas such as identity verification, document processing, customs clearance, and government services. Pilot programs could be launched to enable direct applications for high-tech talent immigration from abroad. A market-driven mechanism for talent immigration services should be established, with an emphasis on strengthening service standards and fostering a service-oriented approach. Additionally, the government should prioritize public relations concerning foreign talents, fostering a positive and welcoming development environment.

A wealth of talent is vital to the success of a great cause. People with talent are a strategic resource for China as it endeavors to achieve national rejuvenation and stay ahead in international competition; they are also a key support for realizing the Chinese path to modernization. Looking to the future, continuously deepening institutional reforms for talent development, pursuing a more proactive, open, and effective policy on training competent professionals, speeding up efforts to build a contingent of personnel with expertise of strategic importance, and strengthening talent incentive mechanisms will provide powerful momentum for the Chinese path to modernization and enhance the country's international appeal and influence.