Summary of Key Points
This article reveals the distribution differences in various industries across cities by analyzing the data on third-sector employees in the top 20 GDP cities for 2025. It highlights the disparities in the allocation of resources within the state apparatus (civil servants, education, healthcare, research) and high-end market positions (finance, IT, real estate) between different cities. The article also compares the patterns of job distribution between the secondary and tertiary sectors: the secondary sector is influenced by industrial clusters, while the tertiary sector relies more on the administrative status of the city and its role as a regional center.
Total Number of Tertiary Sector Employees: Beijing and Shanghai Lead, with Chongqing and Chengdu Catching Up Due to Their Population Size
The distribution of the total number of tertiary sector employees is quite distinct:
- First tier: Beijing and Shanghai have over 10 million employees (Beijing has the highest number of tertiary sector employees among all cities).
- Second tier: Shenzhen and Guangzhou have over 8 million employees.
- Third tier: Chongqing and Chengdu have over 5 million employees (mainly due to their large populations; Chongqing, in particular, has a population of 30 million).
- Fourth tier: Hangzhou, Wuhan, and Zhengzhou have between 4 and 5 million employees (all of which are strong provincial capitals).
In general, larger cities with more developed economies tend to have more tertiary sector employees. However, cities with large populations like Chongqing and Chengdu can also make it to the top ranks due to their population size.
State-Affiliated Industries: Higher Administrative Levels Mean More Jobs, with Beijing Far Ahead
The state-affiliated tertiary sectors include civil servants (public administration), teachers (education), healthcare workers (healthcare), and researchers (science and technology). The distribution of these jobs follows a clear pattern:
- Administrative priority: Municipalities (Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing) > Sub-provincial cities > Provincial capitals > Ordinary prefecture-level cities. For example, Beijing has over 500,000 civil servants (the highest number in the country), while Chongqing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu all have over 300,000. Within the same province, Jinan has more civil servants than Qingdao, and Hangzhou has more than Ningbo.
- Population size plays a role: In the education sector, Chongqing ranks second due to its large population; in the healthcare sector, Beijing and Shanghai have over 400,000 employees, while Chongqing has over 300,000.
- Research infrastructure: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Shenzhen are among the top five cities for researchers. Traditional regional centers like Wuhan, Nanjing, and Xi'an also have significant research resources.
Overall, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu rank in the top five in these sectors. Chongqing also ranks among the top three, except in the technology sector, indicating that these cities rely more on state-affiliated resources.
High-End Market Industries: Beijing Leads in Finance and IT, with Shenzhen Standing Out in Real Estate and IT
The distribution of high-paying jobs in market-oriented industries reflects a city's industrial competitiveness:
- General IT (internet, software): Beijing is far ahead (1.5 times that of Shanghai), with Shanghai and Shenzhen close behind (with a gap of less than 100,000 employees). Strong provincial capitals like Chengdu and Hangzhou rank lower, which aligns with their status as “new first-tier cities.”
- Finance: Beijing is the leader (with more employees than Shanghai), followed by Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Chengdu. Jobs in these sectors are concentrated in major cities, municipalities, and strong provincial capitals.
- Real estate: Shenzhen ranks first (the only city to lead in this sector), with Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou close behind.
- Leasing and business services: Shanghai has more employees than Beijing (the only city to surpass it). Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Ningbo, and Chongqing all have over 1 million employees; the higher numbers in Ningbo and Chongqing may be due to labor dispatch statistics.
- Culture and entertainment: Beijing is far ahead (equivalent to the combined total of Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen), with Chongqing (due to its large population), Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu also ranking highly. Changsha ranks seventh, reflecting the strength of its entertainment industry (e.g., Mango TV).
It is evident that Beijing dominates most high-end industries, followed by Shanghai, with Guangzhou and Shenzhen competing closely (with Shenzhen being stronger in IT and attracting top talent), and Chengdu and Hangzhou catching up quickly.
New Profile of City Hierarchies: Chengdu and Hangzhou Close to the First Tier, with Changsha Standing Out in Entertainment
The tertiary sector data clearly outlines the city hierarchies:
- First-tier cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou (Beijing is the strongest overall; Shenzhen excels in IT and real estate).
- New first-tier leaders: Chengdu and Hangzhou (close to the first tier in high-paying industries like IT and finance, making them strong second-tier cities).
- Characteristic cities: Changsha (stands out in entertainment); Wuhan, Nanjing, and Xi'an (as regional centers with significant research and high-end jobs).
Secondary vs. Tertiary Sectors: Different Patterns of Job Distribution
The article concludes by comparing the differences in job distribution between the secondary and tertiary sectors:
- Secondary sector (industrial workers): Primarily concentrated in the southeastern coastal areas (Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta), with little correlation to administrative levels. For example, cities with many industrial workers (such as Dongguan and Suzhou) have lower administrative ranks but many factories.
- Tertiary sector (service jobs): Many jobs are related to state institutions (government agencies, public organizations, research institutes). Even market-oriented jobs are centered around these entities, so the higher the administrative level and the more the city resembles a regional center, the more tertiary sector jobs there are.
In summary, this analysis uses data to clearly illustrate the industrial strengths and positions of different cities, making it easy for readers to understand the differences in employment opportunities. For example, those seeking state-affiliated jobs should consider municipalities or strong provincial capitals; for IT careers, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou are excellent choices; for the entertainment industry, Changsha is worth considering.