According to the 7th national census released by National Bureau of Statistics, Guangdong has been China’s most populous province for 14 years in a row with 126.01 million people, accounting 8.93% of the country’s total population (1.41 billion).

Although the population increase year-on-year, statistics show that 20.39% of the population is above 60 years old, while 68.80% is between 15 and 59 years old. Yang Xinhong, Director-General of Statistic Bureau of Guangdong Province analyzed that Guangdong had entered the aging society in 2013, and the aging population has increased obviously, compared with the previous census.

As the economic powerhouse in China, Guangdong used to be known as the “world factory”, which means its development is largely dependent on a working-age population.

Facing the challenge brought by the aging society, Guangdong started transforming and upgrading its manufacturing sector from labor-intensive to technology-centric in 2008.

The high-quality development requires the province should reduce the manufacturing cost through innovative technology, get rid of ineffective supply and wasteful resources, and then build up a circular economic system with sustainable green energy and low-carbon.

There is no doubt that the developing innovation industries need a great number of people with high education degrees.

According to Department of Education of Guangdong Province, Guangdong has invested more than 350 billion yuan in the educational sector in 2021, accounting 21.1% of the general public budget expenditures of Guangdong, increasing 9% year-on-year.

Guangdong's Statistical Bulletin of National Economy and Social Development 2020 shows that the amount of undergraduate enrollment has increased from 550 thousand in 2015 to 920 thousand in 2020.

Under the great investment by the Government of Guangdong, the number of people (per 100,000 population) with university (college) degree in Guangdong has surged from 1338 in the 4th national census to 15699 in the 7th national census, a tenfold increase from 1990 to 2020 in accordance with the 7th national census on degree of education in Guangdong.

It is worth mentioning that the literacy rate has reduced from 1.96% (2010) to 1.45% this year.

A sufficient supply of qualified personnel lays a solid foundation for the innovation industry and high-quality development. Guangdong now owns more than 300,000 new high-tech enterprises. More than 700,000 patents for inventions were successfully applied for in 2020, with over 20,000 PCT patents, ranking first in China.

In addition, the constantly improving innovation industry has consolidated Guangdong’s economic strength and created a great amount of job opportunities for university graduates. An employment analysis of 42 'double first-class' universities shows that Guangdong province has seen the largest inflow of graduates from 17 universities surveyed.

Furthermore, supported by the development of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, more than 600 teams from Hong Kong and Macao have started their businesses in Guangdong.

According to Population Development Plan of Guangdong Province (2017-2030), Guangdong will not only strengthen cultivation of applied talents, technical persons and innovative talents, but also establishes and maintains an effective system to attract international talents.

Author| Steven

Graphic| Alice

Editor| Wing, Abby, Jerry