Research on the measurement and influencing factors of the agglomeration degree of industrial digitalization talents in China

When the digital economy becomes deeply intertwined with conventional industries, this integration contributes substantially to the overall economy’s healthy and rapid expansion. Within this context, the way industrial digitalization talents cluster together emerges as a critical determinant. Against this backdrop, the current study undertakes a systematic assessment of both the size and the concentration patterns of such talents. To this end, we draw upon several analytical tools, including the compilation of input-output tables, the derivation of digital consumption coefficients, and the application of location entropy techniques. Using these methods, we compute agglomeration indices for industrial digitalization talents across 30 Chinese provinces and municipalities over the period 2011–2023. Subsequently, informed by the distinctive features of this talent category, we implement a regression framework to evaluate how economic conditions, industrial structures, cultural settings, and quality-of-life variables collectively shape talent agglomeration. Our empirical findings indicate that, across different provincial-level jurisdictions, industrial digitalization talents clustering continues to be shaped primarily by economic and environmental forces. Nevertheless, as cross-regional integration proceeds, the influence of economic growth on talent agglomeration exhibits a declining trend. These observations suggest the necessity for fresh policy initiatives aimed at fostering a self-reinforcing virtuous cycle linking industrial digitalization and the corresponding talent clustering process.