On November 12, the "2025 China Import-Export Trade Talent Demand and Salary Trends Report" released by 51job revealed that key export sectors such as new energy vehicles, photovoltaics, and power batteries face an acute shortage of multidisciplinary professionals proficient in international regulations, carbon accounting tools, and supply chain management.
Customs data shows China's cross-border e-commerce import-export volume grew from 1.92 trillion yuan in 2021 to 2.38 trillion yuan in 2024, with an average annual growth rate exceeding 7%. In the first half of 2025, it further achieved a 10.3% year-on-year increase, demonstrating digital transformation's significant role in driving high-quality trade development.
Companies urgently need talent combining platform operations, AI tool applications, data analysis, and compliance management. According to 51job, the current industry talent gap has reached 4 million. With the integration of smart customs data systems and international logistics data sharing, cross-border data analysts have become highly sought-after, commanding significant salary premiums over traditional roles.
As manufacturing provides physical product support for trade, its activity directly impacts overall trade performance. The Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta regions remain China's manufacturing strongholds, where talent mobility reflects the sector's fundamentals.
Global green trade rules are tightening, making green compliance a "hard threshold" for international market entry. The EU's green barriers have upgraded to version 2.0, with the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) set for 2026 implementation, requiring precise carbon footprint accounting and tax declarations across entire supply chains. Domestically, China's "Corporate Sustainability Disclosure Standards" trial requires companies to establish ESG governance frameworks covering value chains.
Consequently, exporters—especially in new energy vehicles, photovoltaics, and power batteries—must accelerate lifecycle carbon management systems and digital monitoring mechanisms. These sectors critically need professionals who can transform compliance costs into green premiums and financing advantages, building differentiated competitive barriers internationally.
Under digital and green transitions, salaries increasingly favor technical, compliance, and multidisciplinary roles. 51job's salary report indicates: - Overseas brand managers (requiring full-cycle brand management, cross-cultural marketing, and compliance skills) earn 450,000–800,000 yuan annually - Overseas ITBP roles (combining business and technical skills) in supply chain/logistics offer 300,000–600,000 yuan - Emerging green compliance roles command premium salaries: ESG directors earn 350,000–800,000 yuan, while carbon accounting engineers make 200,000–400,000 yuan.
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