Distribution Pattern and Influencing Factors of Highly Educated Talents in Guangdong Province from 2000 to 2020 based on GIS and GeoDetector Model

Nowadays, in the context of globalization and informatization, highly educated talents (HET) have become an important driving force for the economic and social development of countries and regions. Therefore, analyzing the geographical factors related to talent can provide important references for the formulation of regional talent introduction policies and talent management. From this perspective, this study uses the data of the Chinese population census from 2000 to 2020, analyzes the distribution pattern and primary influencing factors of HET in Guangdong Province in the past 20 years through the Theil index, multiple linear regression model (MLR), and GeoDetector model, and proposes optimization suggestions on this basis. Study has shown that: (1) Guangdong's HET are concentrated in economically developed cities in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region, presenting a spatial distribution pattern of "dense in the PRD region, sparse in other regions," with Guangzhou and Shenzhen having the highest talent density. (2) There was a significant difference in the change rate of high educated talent density among cities in the province before and after 2010. The growth rate was relatively fast before 2010, but slowed down after 2010. The change rate of talent proportion shows a trend of "fast growth in the PRD region and slow growth in other regions." (3) The imbalance between the density and proportion of HET among cities is on the rise. Through the analysis of the geographic detector model, it was found that administrative hierarchy, scientific research environment, and economic opportunities are the three main factors affecting the distribution pattern of HET in Guangdong Province.