Heavy smog is scaring away many expats from working in the capital, CNBC reports.
According to last week's annual survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in Beijing, nearly 48 percent of its 365 members said concerns over air quality were turning businesspeople off China, rising from 34 percent last year and 19 percent in 2010.
Air quality is much worse in the capital city than in Shanghai, China's financial hub, because of it's proximity to heavily-polluted Hebei province and traffic-swamped roads. Last month, the World Health Organization called China's pollution a "crisis", after smog levels in Beijing hit hazardous levels for seven consecutive days.
Financial reasons, rather than seeking a better lifestyle seems to be the main draw for those who do consider upping sticks to China. George McFerren, head of Asia Pacific at careers website eFinancialcareers, said "Of those who would consider moving to Chinese mainland a clear majority - at 62 percent - cited better career opportunities while only 4 percent cited a better quality of living as their main motivation".
However, even financial draws and allowances for smog are not enough to persuade some workers, particularly with families, to move to the Chinese capital. According to Martin Cerullo, managing director of development for Asia Pacific at HR consultancy Alexander Mann Solutions: "What we've seen is that on your own, you are more likely to take a decision based on whether it's good for your career, so you may decide to put up with the pollution for two years or so. But it is a different type of decision when a family is involved, that's why it's harder to attract people to mid- to senior management positions".
ECA International's Quane said that companies are making significant efforts to reduce pollution, such as encouraging mask-wearing, car-sharing and investing in purifiers, in a bid to encourage workers to choose their firms and cities. Currently, Singapore and Hong Kong frequently come out on top of Asian cities that workers would choose to live in.
"China's pollution problem is having a very detrimental impact on companies as there is a scarcity of skills and talents. Not only are these firms competing against other companies, but now other cities as well," Quane said.
Last year only three out of 74 Chinese cities subject to air quality monitoring met the national standard.
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