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According to data unveiled by the Zhejiang Provincial Bureau of Statistics on Feb 26, Shaoxing's permanent population reached 5.39 million by the end of 2023, marking an increase of 41,000 compared to the previous year.

The boost places Shaoxing as the fourth-largest city in the province, behind Hangzhou, Wenzhou, and Ningbo, which saw increases of 146,000, 82,000, and 79,000, respectively.

"Against the backdrop of a low fertility rate in 2023, the addition of 41,000 new permanent residents in our city holds particular significance," commented an official from the Shaoxing municipal bureau of statistics, highlighting that the majority of last year's newcomers were migrant talents.

By the end of December 2023, the top three industries witnessing growth in the number of participants in basic pension insurance for enterprise employees were manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, and scientific research and technical services.

The sustained growth in Shaoxing's permanent population is largely attributed to the city's appealing talent policies.

Shaoxing is swiftly emerging as one of the most coveted destinations among young talents in the Yangtze River Delta region. In 2023, the city welcomed over 1,000 new doctoral degree holders for the first time, coupled with a record-breaking increase of 96,761 new urban jobs.

Currently, Shaoxing enforces a "no-threshold" settlement policy for college graduates, providing a range of subsidies including settlement, housing, and one-time entrepreneurship subsidies.

Moreover, in 2020, Shaoxing implemented a policy allowing individuals who have legally resided in urban areas of the city for one year and do not possess a house to apply for settlement locally.

"A robust industrial foundation, coupled with accommodating settlement policies and an inviting living environment, have laid the groundwork for the continuous population influx in our city," affirmed an official from the Shaoxing municipal bureau of statistics.