The 2024 employment competitiveness survey report for overseas returnees was unveiled on Sunday, providing employment reference for students studying abroad.

Data from this year's campus recruitment survey showed that the top sectors for overseas graduates who returned to China to find jobs include the computer, internet, telecommunications and electronics industries, followed by accounting, finance, banking and insurance.

The energy, environmental and chemical sectors surged in 2023 becoming the third-largest employment sectors for returnees, according to the report, which was jointly released by overseas consultancy EIC Education and recruitment portal 51Job.

While first-tier cities remained as top employment choices for the group, there has been a decline in preferences for Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen in Guangdong province, the report said.

Meanwhile, emerging major cities such as Chengdu in Sichuan province, Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, Nanjing in Jiangsu province and Wuhan in Hubei province, have seen a significant increase in popularity.

According to the report, half of the employers are willing to offer overseas returnees more competitive compensation compared to domestic graduates, including better salaries and promotion opportunities.

In foreign and private companies, over 60 percent of returnees occupied mid to senior-level management roles. QS World University Rankings is the most significant factor when evaluating candidates' academic background, according to the report.

The survey indicated that employers had the greatest demand for overseas graduates with master's degrees, followed by bachelor's degree holders. Additionally, government and research institutions showed a high demand for PhD returnees.

For students, the survey revealed that research and development positions and management trainee roles were the most common jobs for overseas graduates. Last year, marketing surpassed financial consulting to become the third-largest category of positions.

The job search duration for returnees had lengthened, with only 30 percent securing employment within three months last year, while around 35 percent required three to six months, it showed.

When seeking employment, returnees prioritized salary, career development opportunities, and benefits. Additionally, the workload and commute time had also been given more consideration.

The report also highlighted that more than 80 percent of returnees had internship experience before entering the job market, with over 60 percent having completed two or more internships.

Furthermore, returnees with STEM degrees earned significantly higher annual incomes within three years of graduation compared to those with business or humanities degrees, the report said.

Job stability noted a relatively high percentage, with over 60 percent of the group remaining in their positions for one to three years, and nearly 30 percent staying for more than three years, it added.