Modern trends in the formation of human resources as a factor in sustainable development of China’s economy

The processes of human resources formation and development are among the topical areas of research on the growth of national economies. China, like other developing countries, is building an innovation economy, and considers its national human capital as a key factor in its further growth. China has the greatest amount of human resources among all countries of the world, which largely ensures its success in the global economy; however, birth control policy and other factors led to the emergence of several issues that may have a significant impact on the formation of human capital and further economic growth of the country. The purpose of the present study is to reveal modern trends in the formation of human resources of China by considering the demographic, urban and economic aspects. The paper defines the concept of national human resources, substantiates the urgency of a comprehensive research into the accumulation of human potential in a populous country such as China. The authors consider population dynamics in China, including able-bodied population, analyze the age structure of population, level of dependency, level of urbanization and specifics of spatial distribution of the population. Particular emphasis is placed on the problem of reduction in the share of working-age population, assessment of the role of internal migration flows in the formation of human capital in cities, assessment of the total economic effect of urbanization, analysis of the uneven spatial distribution of human resources of China and its impact on the volume of production in regions. Several key indicators are presented in the context of major Chinese cities or provinces.