A sprawling city at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, Chongqing is one of China's most important and prosperous cities. Its rapid economic growth brings in more and more expats with the offer of various career opportunities at all levels.
Chongqing is often referred to as the most populous city in the world, but that's not exactly true. The Municipality of Chongqing has around 30 million people. However, the population of the city itself is 'just' 13 million. There is a significant number of expats living in Chongqing.
As an expat, finding a job in Chongqing shouldn't be difficult, provided you have done your research on the labor market and know the areas where professionals are needed most.
Important:
Since the COVID-pandemic, traveling to China and obtaining the needed visa and work permit has become substantially more complicated. Keep in mind that even if you secure a job offer in Chongqing, you may need to wait until traveling conditions improve before relocating.
Chongqing economy
Chongqing is an essential industrial and commercial area, being part of the West Triangle Economic Zone along with Chengdu and Xi'an. It also has many technological and economic zones, namely the Chongqing Chemical Industrial Park, the Chongqing Economic and Technological Development Zone, the Chongqing Hi-Tech Industry Development Zone, the Chongqing New North Zone, the Chongqing Export Processing Zone, the Jianqiao Industrial Park, among others.
Chongqing's economy is based on several fields, including high technology, information and communication technology, automotive manufacturing, financial services, trade, industry, food, etc. In 2016, the city became the biggest automobile manufacturing center in China. Agriculture also contributes significantly to the city's economy through rice, fruit, and vegetable cultivation.
The city has many natural resources such as coal, natural gas, minerals such as manganese, and metals such as iron, steel and aluminum. It also hosts major national and international companies like HP, Honda, Cisco, Ford, Mazda, as well as world-famous financial institutions such as Citi Bank, Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered Bank, among many others. Chongqing is also home to many universities and educational establishments like Chongqing University, Chongqing University of Technology, etc.
Chongqing job market
Chongqing is a rapidly developing industrial city that has attracted a lot of foreign investment. This means that there are quite a few international companies in the city looking to hire expat professionals — especially in fields related to technology. To be hired by an international company in Chongqing, you will generally need to be a high-level expert in your field.
Local companies in the city also employ foreign professionals — primarily in fields such as technology, marketing, sales, education, and others. To work in sales and marketing, a knowledge of a foreign language and a basic knowledge of Chinese are preferable.
A lot of expats in Chongqing teach English. There are opportunities for English teaching in public and private schools, universities, training centers, corporate consultancies, and more.
Job-hunting in Chongqing
If you are job hunting from outside China, the best place to start your job search is online. There are lots of websites where you can find job postings for expats in Chongqing. Check out Echinacities, HiredChina, ChinaTeachingJobs, and JobsDB, among others.
Another useful tool in remote job hunting is social media. Ensure your Linkedin account is fully updated and indicates that you are open to new opportunities. It is also a good idea to change your Linkedin location to Chongqing so that your profile is more visible to employers and headhunters in the city.
If you are an experienced professional, your job search will be more efficient if you go through a hiring agent. You can find recruiters in Chongqing on Linkedin or with a quick online search. If you work in the tech industry or are interested in research projects, check the official website of the International Talent Online Recruitment Of Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle.
Another way to go about your job search is to contact potential employers directly. You can look up companies in your field with offices in Chongqing and check their website for potential employment opportunities. You can also reach out to their HR departments and inquire if there are any openings in the department you want to work in.
You can also check with employers in your home country. As Chongqing is a rapidly developing industrial hub, quite a few foreign companies set up branch offices in the city. Finding a job from your home country first and then exploring relocation options may be one of the best ways to have a secure job in China. Plus, foreign companies typically provide their employees with generous relocation packages that include perks such as moving costs, accommodation, living expenses, education for children, tickets to fly back home for holidays, and more.
Before you set out on your job search in China, make sure to download the WeChat app. It's the number one app in China with over 900 million users and is used for most online communication in the country. WeChat is primarily a messenger app — but you can also use it for work calls, sharing documents, holding online meetings, setting up work group chats and more. WeChat is also a social media, shopping and contactless payment tool.
If you want to search for work in Chongqing when you are already in the country, you can still do all of the above. Note. However, that to work in China legally, you will need to apply for a work permit and residence — and the only way to do that is from outside of China. So, if you secure a job offer, you will need to travel back home and apply for a work visa before you can start your employment.
Important:
Currently, you can only travel to China if you have a valid residence permit. You will also need to undergo a quarantine on your arrival. Make sure to check the latest entry requirements to the country before making any travel plans.
How to apply for a job in Chongqing?
The job application process in Chongqing is quite similar to that in most other cities. You will need your resume and cover letter ready in English. If the job you are applying for requires knowledge of Chinese, it's a good idea to attach copies of your resume and cover letter in Chinese as well. With a lot of job offers, a decent knowledge of Chinese will substantially improve your chances of being hired.
The next step in the application process will be a message or call from the hiring manager or your future employer. As we've mentioned above, make sure you download the WeChat app, as a lot of communication in China — including work communication — happens on the app. In fact, it's a good idea to add your WeChat ID to your job application so that your potential employer can get in touch with you quickly.
If the employer is interested in your application, you will next go through a round of interviews. Note that if you are applying for work in a large company, you may need to interview with several department heads at different levels. If you are applying for work in a smaller firm, one or two interviews will probably be enough.
How to apply for a work visa to China?
The only way to work in China legally is to apply for a work visa and a residence permit. The application process typically includes three steps:
- You need to apply for a work permit
- Then, you need to obtain a PU a letter
- Finally, you can apply for the work visa itself.
You should also know that work visas in China are classified into three categories: Class A (high-level talent), Class B (professional personnel) and Class C (non-technical and service workers hired for seasonal/temporary projects). The list of documents you will require to apply depends on the type of working visa you are qualified for.
The first thing you will need to start the job application process is to obtain a job offer. Having a valid work contract is essential for applying for a work visa in China. You will also need to make sure that your employer is capable of sponsoring your work visa. There are special requirements for companies in China that want to employ foreigners — and your employer will need to meet these requirements to provide you with a visa.
Once you have secured a work contract, you will need to ask your employer to send you an official invitation (work permit notice). You may also be asked to obtain a PU letter — an invitation that is issued by the China Foreign Affairs Office. However, some applicants may not require this document. As of 2022, applicants from the United States, Austria, Croatia, Czech, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia and South Korea don't need a PU letter to apply for a work visa. Make sure to check with the relevant authorities whether you need a PU letter or not, as these requirements change frequently.
Once you've collected the needed documents, you can go on to apply for the work visa itself.
If your application gets approved and you receive your work visa, make sure to check if all the information on your visa is correct, such as your name's spelling, type of visa, entry date, length of stay, etc.
When you have received your work visa, you will be able to travel to China. But while a work visa grants you entry into the country, it only allows for a limited stay. It is essential that you start your residence permit application process as soon as you arrive in China to make sure you complete your application in time.
Important:
Obtaining a work permit is the only way to work in China legally. With that, you may find job offers (especially in English teaching) that won't provide you with the needed documents. While quite a few expats engage in such employment offers, the consequences for working illegally in China are severe. You will risk heavy fines and deportation and may even be banned from visiting China in the future.
Wages in Chongqing
If you are an English teacher, you will make an average of RMB 15,000 ($2,200) per month in Chongqing. In general, salaries for English teachers range from RMB 8,000 ($1200) to 30,000 ($4400). If you work in IT, engineering and other tech-related fields, you will probably be making from RMB 20,000 ($3,000) to RMB 40,000 ($6,000). Salaries in sales vary greatly depending on your line of work, commission, base salary, the number of clients, etc.
Cost of living in Chongqing
Chongqing is the biggest city in China. However, the cost of living here is lower compared to Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. Your biggest expense when living in Chongqing will most likely be rent. This is why it's always beneficial to have a contract that includes an accommodation allowance. If you need to pay for rent out of your own pocket, you should budget from RMB 1,500 to 4,000 per month for a small place, depending on which area of the city you choose to settle in. If you prefer to rent a bigger place in a central area, you may be paying substantially more. On average, as a single person living in Chongqing and managing their living expenses, you will be spending from RMB 6,000 ($890) to 15,000 ($2,200) per month — and more, depending on their lifestyle.
What are the perks of living in Chongqing?
You will like living in Chongqing if you want to live in a large modern city that has retained a lot of its originality. Chongqing may be the largest city in China — but the pace of life here is more relaxing compared to other locations such as Beijing and Shanghai. With that, Chongqing has an active expat community. Plus, the city's central location makes it a great place to explore the rest of the country from. Chongqing is just a short flight/speed train trip away from the panda-famous city of Chengdu and the picturesque provinces of Guizhou and Yunnan.
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