On September 9th, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security unveiled 11 new professions and 23 new job categories, marking the eighth batch of officially recognized roles.
What factors determined their selection, and what defining traits do they share with previous additions? With digital and green occupations expanding annually, and roles in modern services proliferating, the discussion now shifts from visibility to formal acknowledgment—raising the question of how to ensure these new careers achieve lasting stability and growth. In this episode of our program, Li Chang'an, a professor at the School of Government at the University of International Business and Economics, offers his expert analysis on these developments.
New Roles Mirror the Most Urgent Demands of the Job Market
How should we interpret this latest round of new professions and job categories? What underlying trend does the selection of these 11 new professions and 23 job types signal? Li explains that this year's additions were distilled from the current needs of industrial and social development. Essentially, the annual release of new roles encapsulates the newest achievements in economic and social progress, reflecting the most pressing demands of the labor market. By issuing these announcements, authorities not only keep the public informed but also send a clear signal to the workforce: these new professions and job categories are precisely where talent is most needed in today's economic landscape.
Digital and Green Sectors Dominate the Latest Listing
Among the 11 new professions announced this year, five fall under the digital category and three are classified as green roles. What does this composition reveal? Li points out that these releases carry a hallmark feature: the latest advancements in new quality productive forces are placing fresh demands on the labor market. This concept primarily encompasses two major areas. First, the innovation-driven economy, which includes digitalization and artificial intelligence. Technologies represented by AI are profoundly reshaping society and the economy, marking a crucial future trajectory and generating numerous new professions and positions that absorb significant employment. Second, the green economy, serving as a vital engine of new quality productive forces, similarly fosters the emergence of related roles. Additionally, the modern services sector is undergoing continuous upgrading, with evolving public expectations for a better life adding new dimensions to services and spurring the creation of numerous new jobs. Li emphasizes that the standardized, formalized release of new occupations by the human resources department reflects the latest shifts in productivity and socioeconomic development.
The Transformation Brought by Formal Recognition for Elderly Care Professionals
Although the role of elderly care professional was only officially added to the national occupational catalogue last year, the underlying care services have existed for quite some time. So, what has changed following its formal inclusion? Li notes that as China's population ages at an accelerating pace, the demand for elderly care workers is immense, and the shortfall is glaring. The release of this new profession has triggered several notable effects. First, it enhances the role's appeal. With clarified career standards and defined career pathways, more young people are now inclined to join the elderly care industry. Second, it elevates the quality and standardization of services. Once a role is included in the occupational classification, related training benchmarks and job specifications gradually improve, enriching and standardizing the responsibilities of elderly care professionals. For the elderly themselves, this translates into more standardized and professional care.
How Are Practitioners Trained? Experts Say Roles Often Exist Informally Before Being Formalized
Elderly care professionals are a somewhat familiar role, boasting a relatively long development history and accumulated practical experience, which makes the process of setting standards and conducting training comparatively smoother. However, when faced with entirely novel professions, similar challenges around standards arise. Even after standards are established, questions persist: who will serve as qualified instructors to teach these skills, and who will monitor and enforce compliance? Where will these trainers and supervisors come from, and how will they be cultivated? Li elaborates that some professions are genuinely new, though "newness" is relative. In reality, these new professions and positions have often already been operational in society for some time; they are typically submitted by employers, then vetted through screening, expert review, and public notification before being officially confirmed. Compared to traditional trades, they are undoubtedly very fresh. Once incorporated into the national occupational classification dictionary, they immediately pose the question of how to properly train and regulate practitioners. This, in turn, raises a cascade of practical issues. For instance, can instructor teams be assembled swiftly? Can training materials be compiled without delay? Can the curriculum framework be established promptly to keep pace? All these related concerns must be tackled decisively in practical implementation and daily operation after the new professions and positions are formally established. Only through such diligent follow-through can these new roles achieve further development and secure broader social acceptance.