Jinan ranked fifth among Chinese cities for growth in permanent residents in 2025, with its population increasing by 101,000, according to recent data. The rise reflects the city's growing appeal to talent, supported by open household registration policies, expanding industries, and accessible public services.

Jinan ranked fifth among Chinese cities for growth in permanent residents in 2025, with its population increasing by 101,000, according to recent data. The rise reflects the city's growing appeal to talent, supported by open household registration policies, expanding industries, and accessible public services.

In 2020, Jinan became one of the first sub-provincial cities in China to lift major restrictions on local household registration, eliminating requirements for social insurance payments or years of residence. Since then, the city has continued to refine its talent policies by releasing 60 talent-related measures in 2022 and updating them several times. The latest version offers broader support for master's and doctoral graduates working at enterprises that use specialized, sophisticated technologies to develop new products.

By the end of 2025, Jinan had attracted a total of 3.1 million talents, nearly 800,000 more than five years earlier. The city has also been recognized as one of China's best cities for attracting talent over the past four years.

Last year, Jinan's GDP reached 1.42 trillion yuan ($210 billion), up 5.4 percent year-on-year. Its electronic information, automotive, steel, and high-end software industries have each exceeded 100 billion yuan in scale, while high-tech manufacturing grew 14.7 percent.

Beyond employment, Jinan is working to make daily life easier for young people and professionals, offering support in housing, education, and healthcare. Its message is clear: talent can not only come to Jinan, but also thrive and feel at home.