Energy SOE helps drive high-quality development

Anhui Province Energy Group Co Ltd, a State-owned enterprise at the heart of China's power transition and regional development, is stepping up efforts to promote employment and talent development as part of its high-quality growth push.

The group, as a major player in the country's energy supply security, low-carbon transition and industrial transformation, said that it has stepped up its outward expansion strategy and invested in projects such as powerplants in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region to transport electricity from the region to Anhui.

It has also taken part in pioneering technologies, including a high-ratio ammonia-coal co-firing project, selected by China's National Energy Administration as a first-of-its-kind major energy equipment innovation.

Wang Pengfei, head of Party Committee Organization Department of Anhui Province Energy Group Co Ltd, said, "All these efforts have not only boosted the company's position in emerging sectors like carbon neutrality and nuclear fusion, but more importantly, generated new demand for skilled workers."

Since 2023, the group has hired over 1,000 employees across various sectors, reinforcing its workforce while contributing to local employment stability.

To attract top-level talent, the company reimburses travel expenses for out-of-town candidates and has secured over 670,000 yuan ($93,398) in government subsidies to support high-end talent recruitment and skills competitions. It has also earmarked 10 million yuan for its own internal talent development fund.

"Stabilizing employment is a crucial part of fulfilling our social responsibility as a State-owned enterprise. We've been working to expand our recruitment capacity and actively uncover job creation potential in step with our growth," Wang said.

Wang added that the company has implemented a "talent-first "strategy to support this transformation.

"We are building a robust talent pool by refining our recruitment methods, offering financial incentives and launching large-scale graduate programs," he said.

The group adopted its "336 recruitment model", leveraging provincial government-backed job fairs and talent initiatives to attract more quality workers.

During the 2024 fall recruitment season, the company offered 256 job postings through multiple platforms including its official website, WeChat, and third-party sites, receiving more than 15,000 applications.

From January to May, the group posted 249 additional positions online, continuing its multichannel recruitment drive. It has also prioritized the hiring of management trainees, adding 100 postgraduate-level professionals to its strategic reserve.

In addition, Wang emphasized that talent retention is equally prioritized.

The company developed a talent training framework, which includes onboarding camps, youth leadership programs and sector-specific academies, in order to nurture professional growth across the career lifecycle.

Since 2023, it has hosted multiple training programs in finance, safety and innovation, while encouraging subsidiaries to build their own localized development platforms.

At the same time, Anhui Province Energy has begun building centralized and integrated training facilities following a "one center, multiple bases" model to accelerate upskilling across technical, managerial and frontline roles.

In a bid to support its strategic expansion into remote areas, the group launched a pilot policy encouraging young talent to work in underdeveloped regions.

"High-quality development requires high-quality talent," Wang said. "By aligning our growth strategy with our personnel strategy, we are not only building a stronger company but contributing to regional stability and economic transformation."