Abstract: Using data of more than 40 000 enterprises in 68 export destinations during 2007-2016, this paper examines the impact of China's export on the employment structure of enterprises in destinations. The resuIts are as follows. (1) China's export reduces the employment size of the enterprises in destinations, but it promotes the employment structure upgrading. (2) China's export plays a greater role in optimizing the employment structure of enterprises in low-and middle-income countries, non-OECD countries and the countries away from the Belt and Road Initiative. And the effect is especially salient for the enterprises of smaller sizes and with no international quality certifications. The export of intermediate goods shows greater effects than that of capital goods or consumption goods. (3) From the perspective of enterprises' innovations, independent innovations of enterprises in low-and middle-income countries have strengthened the optimization effect of China's export on the employment structure. (4) The impact of export differs by countries, in which China's case is special.
