Exploring the impact of Guangdong Province's talent policies on the retention of fresh master's graduates for employment in Guangdong

University graduates' choice of local employment serves as a core driver for promoting regional economic innovation, by effectively meeting corporate talent demands and injecting high-quality talent resources into regional development. This dynamic holds strategic significance for sustaining regional economic growth and fostering social stability. Talent policies attract graduates to local employment by offering preferential conditions and development opportunities while advancing their career growth and achieving mutual benefit and win-win outcomes for both talent and regions. Investigating the influence of talent policies on graduates' employment location decisions holds practical relevance in the current context. This research examines the mechanisms through which talent policies affect the employment decisions of fresh master's graduates in Guangdong and the interplay between policy and nonpolicy factors in shaping their career choices. The research reveals that graduates' perceptions and expectations, and the accessibility and attractiveness of talent policies collectively form a critical mechanism of policy cognition and response, profoundly influencing their employment decisions. First, well-designed policy support enhances graduates' recognition of policies, increases employment opportunities, and improves employment quality. Second, non-policy factors—including personal backgrounds, employment preferences, and city characteristics, interact with policy factors to shape graduates' employment choices and career trajectories. Additionally, the research finds that graduates exhibit a strong awareness of the employment environment, with environmental perceptions directly impacting their decision to remain in Guangdong. Key factors include the diversity of job opportunities, competitive pressures, career development prospects, and the appeal of policy incentives. Governments should strengthen supervision and evaluation of policy implementation to ensure efficiency and fairness, enhancing graduates' sense of policy efficacy. The conclusions of this research provide policymakers with a comprehensive perspective to better align with the needs and expectations of fresh master's graduates, improve policy implementation efficiency, and refine policy applicability. By integrating multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks, this research advances the development of talent policies, promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, and offers theoretical and practical guidance for formulating more effective talent strategies in the future.