AI talent shortage fuels pay rises at Chinese robotics firms

An illustrative image of humanoid robots in China.

 

AI talent shortage fuels pay rises at Chinese robotics firms

As China's humanoid robotics booms, companies in the sector are offering salaries more than triple the average urban salary to attract top engineers and AI talent, highlighting a growing talent shortage that even industry leaders are aware of.

The average monthly salary for humanoid robot algorithm engineers is now 31,512 yuan ($4,386), rising to 38,489 yuan for positions requiring more than five years of experience, according to a new report released this week by online recruitment platform Zaopin.

This is nearly four times the national average urban salary of 10,058 yuan per month, based on the company's latest compensation data for the third quarter of 2024.

 

Mechanical design engineers in this field are highly paid, with an average salary of 22,264 yuan, according to a report published by the SCMP website and reviewed by Al Arabiya Business.

The rising wages in the humanoid robotics sector are a rare bright spot in an otherwise sluggish employment environment.

China's labor market remains under pressure from slowing economic growth and declining corporate profits, leading to widespread layoffs and salary cuts across various sectors.

The youth unemployment rate, excluding students, fell slightly to 15.8% in April, compared to 16.5% in March, according to official data.

But with a record number of graduates entering the workforce this summer, the labor market is facing increasing pressure.