A total of 68,200 college students seek employment in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province in the first half of this year, a yearly uptick of 42.5 percent. [Photo/chinanews.com]

A total of 68,200 college students sought employment in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province in the first half of this year, a yearly uptick of 42.5 percent, local authorities said.

Among them, 34,500 were fresh college graduates, representing an increase of 14.05 percent year-on-year, according to the Ningbo municipal bureau of human resources and social security.

Ningbo is becoming increasingly popular among young job-seekers, noted an official at the talent office of Ningbo municipal Party committee.

A report compiled by the Green Ranking City Research Institute shows that Ningbo is home to 5,219 intelligent manufacturing enterprises, ranking seventh in the world. These enterprises provide 1,015,200 jobs.

This year, the city has rolled out a slate of policies and measures to spur the growth of high-end manufacturing industries, which as a result has created many opportunities for talent development.

A number of new occupations, such as digital manager, drone pilot and e-sports player have emerged in Ningbo, offering many employment opportunities for young people.

The growing number of small and micro businesses in the city also creates a strong demand for labor.

Official data shows that 1,300-plus start-ups have been registered in Ningbo thus far this year, with the number topping Zhejiang province over the period.

As of the end of the second quarter, registered employment in the tertiary industry in the city posted a growth of 9.7 percent year-on-year.

In Q2, Ningbo placed second in China in terms of employment conditions with a CIER index of 2.24, according to a report jointly released by the China Institute for Employment Research (CIER) under Renmin University of China and job-hunting website Zhaopin.com.

A CIER index of above 1.0 means job supply outweighs demand, while below 1.0 indicates the opposite.

In a bid to lure more talents to Ningbo, the local government issued a series of preferential policies related to job-seeking, house rental and property purchasing.

In Ningbo, college students can obtain a Ningbo hukou or residential certificate within 15 years of graduation. Undergraduates and postgraduates can apply for subsidies of 10,000 and 30,000 yuan respectively when purchasing property in the city.

College graduates are also entitled to a seven-day free accommodation as well as transportation subsidy ranging from 200 ($29.8) to 6,000 yuan.

The largest recruitment fair for young talents in Zhejiang province is set to take place in Ningbo during the 2019 Ningbo Talent and Tech Week which is set to open on Sept 20.