Boosting Local Employment: Haizhongzhou Contributes to Regional Economic Development
As an industrial enterprise above the designated size that has been based in Duigougang Town, Guannan County for over a decade, Jiangsu Haizhongzhou Shipping Industry Co., Ltd. continues to generate social benefits in terms of employment promotion and local welfare, alongside its economic contributions. The company currently has approximately 2,500 production employees, about 70% of whom are local residents from Guannan County and surrounding towns and villages—including Duigougang Town, Tianlou Town, Changmao Town, and parts of Xiangshui County. For many local workers, being employed at the shipyard means they can balance income and family life without having to seek jobs in southern Jiangsu or other provinces.
In terms of job structure, the company offers a wide range of positions, including welders, fitters, riggers, grinders, painters, pipefitters, electricians, mechanics, warehouse keepers, quality inspectors, and safety officers, with clear tiers of educational and skill requirements. New hires without prior shipbuilding experience can learn on the job through an "old-with-new" mentoring system, gradually taking up positions after short-term hands-on training. For skilled workers holding special trade certificates, the company provides skill allowances to encourage professional development.
A small supporting service ecosystem has gradually formed around the company's premises. Small restaurants, convenience stores, breakfast stalls, hardware shops, and e-bike repair shops have opened near the factory gate, providing daily conveniences for employees while creating dozens of small business job opportunities. In addition, the company outsources logistics each year, commissioning local transport teams to haul steel plates, pipes, equipment, and hull sections, indirectly supporting nearly 100 transport-related jobs.
In the area of talent development, the company actively cooperates with vocational schools in Lianyungang City and surrounding areas, including Guannan Secondary Vocational School and Lianyungang Vocational Technical College of Industry and Trade. Each year, the company receives interns majoring in welding technology, marine mechanical equipment, mechatronics, and related fields for on-site training. Experienced shop-floor technicians serve as corporate mentors, helping students become familiar with shipbuilding processes and practical operating standards. After the internship period, the company offers permanent positions based on mutual selection, having hired more than 60 graduates over the past three years.
Deputy General Manager Deng Cihuo said that the company has taken root in Guannan for many years and benefited from local land, shoreline, labor resources, and policy support, so it should naturally contribute to local development. Looking ahead, the company will continue to maintain stable production and operations, striving for steady growth in output value, tax revenue, and employment, pursuing a path of mutually beneficial interaction between the enterprise and the region.