Employees in Shanghai finished tops in the country for the strongest willingness to work overseas, a survey revealed yesterday.

However, Shanghai employees are the most unwilling to move to other cities within China's mainland.

The survey, conducted by workforce solutions provider Kelly Services, found 45 percent of Shanghai employees are willing to work in overseas countries and regions, higher than the national average of 34 percent. However, those willing to work in other Chinese mainland cities only accounted for 16 percent, much lower than the national average of 48 percent.

Mark Hall, a general manager with Kelly Services, told Shanghai Daily yesterday that people here have more opportunities to contact international corporations.

He said they usually look forward to learning from Western countries and companies as overseas work offers attractive pay and the experience can help with their future career development.

Since Shanghai has always been a place that attracts people from all over the country for work, people who live and work here are less interested in moving to other Chinese mainland cities, Hall said.

According to the survey, which interviewed 9,986 Chinese mainland employees and nearly 100,000 employees around the world, 82 percent of the mainland's workforce would relocate if they had to for a job opportunity. The global average was 77 percent.

As Chinese businesses increase investment overseas, more job openings, mainly management positions, will become available. These positions will require domestic professionals who now pay more attention to wages and future development, and working overseas can help them, the report said.

Chinese employees find Europe the most attractive option, followed by Asia Pacific and North America, the survey found.

"It's closer to home and family is important in Chinese culture," Hall said of the popularity of Asia-Pacific countries. The high unemployment rate in the United States had a negative influence upon people, Hall added.