In the 1980s and 1990s, China’s overseas labor export was mainly about manpower. Large groups of Chinese workers went abroad for construction, agriculture, and other physical jobs. They played an important role in host countries’ development, but the work was usually low-skilled, with limited chances for growth.
Today, the picture looks very different. With China’s rapid economic development, better education, and stronger vocational training, the labor we send abroad has shifted toward skilled and technical roles. Now, it is common to see engineers, IT experts, healthcare staff, and project managers taking overseas assignments. This marks a move from “supplying hands” to “supplying minds.”
At the same time, global demand has changed. Many countries still need manpower, but they increasingly ask for expertise in areas like renewable energy, digital technology, advanced engineering, and industrial management. China’s overseas enterprises, especially those under Belt and Road projects, also need professionals to handle smart infrastructure, digital platforms, and international project operations.
Jetspeed has recently launched many overseas assignment projects, mainly in Southeast Asian countries, including but not limited to Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, and Russia. These projects are largely concentrated in high-end talent fields, which also serve as strong recognition from foreign enterprises of the value of China’s talent market.
