Ningbo ranked second nationwide in terms of net inflow rate of medium to high-end talents, according to a recent report released by the Zhejiang provincial government.

Hangzhou, capital city of Zhejiang province, topped the list.

According to the report, in the first half of this year, a total of 393,000 college students sought employment in Zhejiang province, an increase of 52.02 percent year-on-year.

Hangzhou, Huzhou and Shaoxing were the top three destinations of choice in the province for young job-seekers.

Official data shows that from January to June, Hangzhou attracted 125,000 college graduates, including 638 doctoral students and 21,560 postgraduate students.

Over the same period, 58,000 college graduates landed jobs and started businesses in Huzhou, placing it second in Zhejiang.

In recent years, cities in the province have been scrambling to attract talents through a series of preferential policies.

In Ningbo, college students can obtain a Ningbo hukou or residential certificate within 15 years of graduation. High-caliber professionals can apply for subsidies up to 600,000 yuan ($89,552.2) when purchasing property in the city.