These Chinese Industries Have Won Big During Covid

In the age of Covid, there are winners and losers in all industries. Businesses have to adopt new models. People have to reexamine their career choices. Amid these uncertainties, a select few industries in China seem to have, at least for now, dodged the Covid bullet. 

Read on to find out which businesses have been thriving.

Nucleic Acid Testing Services

Perhaps there is no better time to become a healthcare worker than now, as the number of job openings for nucleic acid testers increased five-fold in Beijing this year, according to data from recruitment website Zhaopin Ltd. Not only that, the entire healthcare industry has been alive and well, with the top three occupations with the fastest growth in the capital being nucleic acid testers (502.1 percent), clinical supervisor (154.6 percent) and bioinformation engineer (101 percent).

Online Meeting Industry

Many folks in Beijing (and the world over) have had to turn to working or studying remotely from home, which leaves no room for face-to-face communication. Thankfully, a new way of communication has thrived. Digital platforms like online conferences have helped people reconnect to workplaces, schools and hospitals. According to a report from Xinhua News, in May 2022 the average daily number of online meetings in Beijing increased by about 70 percent, with the average number of participants increasing by about 73 percent.

Make-Ahead Meals

Now that in-house dining services are no longer available in Beijing, this change has led to more ordering in and more home cooking. Data from Hema Neighborhood shows that as of this May, sales of meal kits rose 500 percent from the previous month. Their two most popular kits in Beijing are Kung Pao Chicken and Grilled Fish. Furthermore, sales of grilled skewers also increased tenfold. All of which is to say it seems like more people have been grilling chuan'r at home to kill time and bring in those Beijing summer vibes.

Waimai Industry

One industry that has benefitted greatly from the dining ban is waimai. In fact, data from Meituan shows that delivery orders in Beijing in May rose by about 30 percent compared to the same period last year.  Many local brands like Haidilao and Xiabuxiabu have even launched their own delivery services around town to generate more revenue.

Video Gaming

Social distancing and a lack of physical engagement wrought by lockdowns drove more Beijing residents than ever before to spend idle hours playing on computers. According to data from the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism and the Beijing Animation and Game Industry Association (BAGIA), the city's gaming industry achieved a total output value of RMB 120.3 billion in 2021, about an 11.64 percent growth compared with 2020.

Read: Here's How You Can Volunteer as a Covid Test Sample Taker

Images: Unsplash,凤凰周刊，中国青年报