While millions of people from the rural peripheries continue to flood into the booming metropolises in the hope of securing a better education, a better job and a better life, a growing group of burnt-out white collars are retreating to the smaller cities in search of a more relaxed lifestyle.

Mostly, they are out-of-town degree-holders, aged around 30, with at least a year's work experience in big cities like Beijing.

A survey conducted by China's leading online job-search website Zhaopin.com in April revealed that more than 80 percent of the 7,000 Chinese white collar respondents in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, answered "yes" to the question: "Would you like to work in a second or third-tier city if given an offer there?"

The survey showed that the rising costs of living, work pressure, pollution and crowded public transport were the major reasons for leaving, with escalating property prices heading the list.

"Now, we believe some of those who said 'yes' are taking action," said Hao Jian, senior human resource consultant at Zhaopin.com.

Hao's conclusion is backed up by the website's survey of online job applications in six major cities, released last December.

The survey showed the number of applicants seeking work in Beijing and Shanghai was declining, but the number was increasing in second-tier cities like Chengdu, Wuhan, Chongqing and Nanjing.

Zhang Zhanxin, a researcher with the Institute of Population and Labor Economics under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, believes the figures indicate the human resources distribution in top-tier cities and second-tier cities, especially the provincial capitals, is changing.

Though further observation is still needed, there are clear signs that second-tier cities are becoming increasingly attractive to talent.

However the education and employment advantages offered by first-tier cities such as Beijing will keep them the favored destinations for degree-holders seeking a starting point for their careers, Zhang said.

Xu Zhaoyuan, a researcher on urbanization with the Development Research Center of the State Council, believes urbanization is the invisible hand behind young people's decision to move to the big metropolises.

As the traditionally agricultural country transforms itself into a modern industrialized nation, most of the resources are channeled into first-tier cities, which means that second and third-tier cities face challenges, not only in attracting and building an educated workforce, but also in creating appropriate jobs, as young educated job seekers primarily look for work with the multinationals in big cities.

However, since 2000 the inland areas have had priority for financial support, as China strives to balance its economic structure to narrow the income gap between the coastal regions and inland areas. The efforts have resulted in more private investment in these areas and a more attractive market for young job seekers.

"As multinationals and leading domestic enterprises tap new inland markets with rich natural resources and a cheaper labor force, more jobs will be generated and a new round of talent distribution will emerge around the country - it's time for birds to come back to the nests," said Xu.

But some young professionals are reluctant to leave the big cities, especially if it means returning to their hometowns as they view it as an admission of failure, like "an injured soldier fleeing from battlefield".

And their ambition can be undermined in the smaller cities by the fact that career development relies more on guanxi, or contacts, than ability.

Whether to heed the call of the big cities and face the challenges of work pressure and high living costs or try to take advantage of the new opportunities in the smaller cities for a better quality of life is a question that is of great importance for the youth entering the job market, as the answer will determine their future.

The authors are reporters with Xinhua News Agency.

(China Daily 02/10/2011 page8)