Shanghai lacks workers in the service sector – Asia News

Since Shanghai lifted COVID-19 restrictions in early June, demand for workers in sectors such as home services, logistics and delivery has skyrocketed.

The Ganji employment website noted that the number of newly posted vacancies jumped 125% from the closing period in April and May. The most in-demand jobs are in service sectors such as home services, logistics and warehousing.

At Aijun Home Service in Shanghai, demand for domestic services, from cleaning to babysitting, has increased from the same period last year.

Li Qiming, an employee of Aijun Home Service, said he helps process about 250 orders a day.

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“The city was in closed management for two months. The number of orders we receive has increased by 30% compared to the same period last year. But we can only fill half of these orders,” Li said.

This difficulty in meeting demand is due to the shortage of labor.

99% of Aijun Home Service workers are from outside Shanghai. During the closing period of the management, many of them went home due to lack of work. Some of them have not returned to Shanghai yet because they are waiting to see how the COVID-19 situation evolves.

The Ganji employment website noted that the number of recently posted vacancies soared 125% over the closing period in April and May.

Xia Jun, founder of the home delivery company, said he had been preparing to expand his business after this year’s Spring Festival, but the COVID-19 outbreak stopped his plan.

“A large batch of migrant workers arrived in Shanghai after the Spring Festival. But since March they have not received orders. Between 20% and 30% of these workers returned home in mid-May. Not many have returned to Shanghai yet,” Xia said.

Human resources experts say that workers in the service sector do not have long-term employment contracts, so the absence of orders during the closing period of the management meant the absence of income for them.

Song Jie, CEO of the human resources consultancy G&E, said if travel restrictions could be eased, it would help solve labor shortages.

“Most of the flex staff work is for projects. If there are no orders, they have no work. So freedom of movement is very important to them. If travel restrictions were eased, it would help solve labor shortages,” Song said.

So far, most cities in the Yangtze River Delta have ended quarantine requirements for travelers from Shanghai.

At Aijun Home Service in Shanghai, the demand for domestic services, from cleaning to babysitting, has increased compared to the same period last year

It is hoped that this will once again allow migrant workers to move freely in the region.

Article republished from the Chinese state media CGTN within the framework of an agreement between both parties to share content. Link to original article: