A new research report by Zhang Liang, a research fellow at the State Council's Development Research Center, shows incomes in China increased significantly in 2017 while the number of people who saw their salary fall was lower compared with the previous year.

The trend was influenced by economic rebounds and a series of policies, according to the study, which was based on surveys of almost 10,000 households in eight Chinese provinces.

The report shows that incomes in traditional sectors also saw a remarkable turnaround, while front-line employees and people without employment contracts earned higher salaries.

However, the research also raised some questions, with an increasing number of interviewees saying they were dissatisfied with their salary as well as the income gap. The low accuracy of economic assistance for lower-income families was also an issue for respondents, as was bankruptcy in some sectors.

Zhang's research team suggested increasing incomes through multiple channels, improving policies to narrow the income gap, increasing the accuracy of social assistance, perfecting labor rights protections and promoting harmonious labor relations.