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China’s tech giants kick off 2026 grad hiring drive early, AI roles in highdemand
China's leading tech firms, including ByteDance and Alibaba, have commenced their 2026 graduate hiring campaigns early, focusing heavily on AI roles due to increased demand. They aim to fill over 12,000 positions, reflecting a significant growth in R&D hiring as the country anticipates a shortage of 4 million AI experts by 2030.
Key points
- ByteDance has launched a recruitment drive offering over 5,000 positions, a 23% increase from last year. Roles focus on algorithm, frontend, and client-side development.
- Alibaba is offering 7,000 positions, over 60% of which are AI-related, with departments like Alibaba Cloud and Dingtalk leading in demand.
- The hiring surge is driven by the urgent need for AI expertise as China projects a shortage of 4 million experts by 2030, according to McKinsey.
- Various connected platforms and services like Douyin, Feishu, CapCut, and VolcanoEngine are also participating in the hiring spree.
Why it matters
- This trend aligns with the global acceleration towards AI and digital transformation, driven by companies trying to innovate and stay competitive.
- Early recruitment by tech giants anticipates technological trends for 2025, such as the dominance of AI in various sectors and the race for digital talent.
- The significant focus on AI positions reflects current global trends addressing skill shortages in emerging technologies.
China's tech giants are proactively recruiting for AI roles ahead of 2026 to combat future skill shortages, illustrating a significant shift towards AI-driven innovation in tech.