Find Out How to Get a Job and Work in Suzhou

Employment in Suzhou

Local Economy

The economy in China as a whole is rising at an impressive rate. This is magnified in cities and areas like Suzhou, where trade and commerce are at the center of city life.

The economy in Suzhou is mainly based around large scale manufacturing; it is in fact the second largest manufacturing zone in China. Main commodities are steel, iron, textiles, and IT equipment. This large scale trade brings massive foreign investment, and therefore jobs for expats in specialist areas of trading are generally plentiful.

Evidence of the greatly rising local economy can be seen in the multiple business districts that have appeared in the past two or three decades and have grown to ever greater heights.

Job Hunting in Suzhou

Job hunting in Suzhou is becoming more and more internet based. There are many English language websites containing, or devoted solely to job hunting in China; examples include eChinacities and ChinaDaily.

There are also associations and news channels set up to provide English speaking expats with all the help they need, such as the Expatriate Association of Suzhou.

You may also want to try reaching out to any Chinese contacts you have when looking for work in Suzhou. Professional networking and business partnerships that can be based on personal relationships and trust play an important role in China’s business world and personal recommendations can help you a long way during your job hunt in Suzhou.

Income Taxation in Suzhou

Taxation in China can be complex. The laws and boundaries change fairly often, but this is only really an issue for business owners.

Personal income taxation is, in contrast, less complex. The amount of taxes you have to pay depend on your fiscal residence status, your status of employment (e.g. employee vs. freelancer), your employer (Chinese vs. foreign), and the height of your income. You can learn more about this topic in our article on Taxation in China.

In general, income tax is calculated based on a progressive rate, beginning at 3% and ranging up to 45% for the highest income bracket. As a first step, expats working in Suzhou will have to register with the Suzhou Municipal Office of State Administration of Taxation.