Job openings for artificial intelligence roles in China increased nearly eightfold in the first seven months of 2026. This surge is attributed to a sector-wide pivot from developing foundational models to implementing commercial applications, according to a report by Maimai.
The rapid increase in AI job postings and salaries in China signals a maturing domestic AI industry focused on practical applications, potentially impacting global AI development and competition.
Job openings for artificial intelligence roles in China saw a significant surge of 789.5% year-on-year in the first seven months of 2026, according to a report released by professional networking platform Maimai. This growth reflects an industry-wide pivot from the development of foundational AI models to the deployment of practical, commercial applications.
The report indicated that average monthly salaries for newly listed AI positions increased by 2.7% to 63,160 yuan ($9,406). While major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen led in the sheer volume of AI job listings, secondary hubs experienced the most rapid expansion. Hefei, in particular, recorded a striking 1,570.4% jump in AI job postings.