China’s Digital Boom Spurs Emergence of New Professions

The landscape of job opportunities in China is rapidly evolving, as the nation’s digitalization drive ushers in a host of new professions. Recently, 19 new occupations were officially added to China’s list of recognized professions, with more than half rooted in digital and smart technologies.

Among these emerging roles are operators of generative artificial intelligence (AI) systems, smart-vehicle testers, and industrial-internet maintenance workers, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. This shift underscores the country’s commitment to advancing its technological capabilities and fostering innovation.

For Li Ming, a recent computer science graduate from Beijing, this surge in digital careers presents a world of opportunity. “It seems to me that AI and big data companies are craving digital talent,” Li remarked at a recent job fair in Haidian District, the Chinese capital’s tech hub. Having spent his graduate years immersed in machine learning and completing a two-year internship at a robotics firm, Li is eager to embark on a career in the field. “I am looking forward to a career in this field,” he said.

Li’s enthusiasm reflects a broader trend among Chinese jobseekers. A survey by online recruitment platform Zhaopin indicates that IT and internet-related jobs are the most sought-after among Chinese university graduates in 2024. Notably, the AI sector ranks among the top three job creators and recipients for graduates nationwide this year, according to Lagou, another leading job-seeking platform.

China’s digital industry has experienced robust growth in recent years, as the country embarks on a tech-driven development path. A report from the Digital China Summit in May revealed that the output of core sectors of the digital economy constituted 10 percent of China’s GDP in 2023, with the number of major AI firms exceeding 4,500. However, this rapid expansion has also led to a significant talent shortage, estimated at 25 million to 30 million people.

“We can see a shortage in not only digital practitioners, but also in their professionalism and variety,” said Zhang Jianguo, chairman and CEO of Renrui Human Resources Technology Holdings Limited. “As the AI boom unfolds nationwide, talent demand is changing much faster than talent supply.”

Data from job-seeking service provider Liepin showed that in the first quarter of this year, jobs related to AI-generated content increased by over 320 percent from a year earlier, while applications for such jobs skyrocketed by more than 940 percent. Specifically, natural language processors and graphics engineers were among the highest-paid professions.

“The emergence of these new professions reflects the latest demands of China’s society and market,” said Zhang Chenggang from the Capital University of Economics and Business. Zhang, who leads a research center on new professions, noted that areas such as the digital economy and IT are where China’s industrial transformation and upgrades are heading. “We can clearly see how many jobs will be created by these sectors, considering the widespread use of AI technology,” he said.

To meet the burgeoning and diverse demand, Chinese leadership has pledged to “advance reforms of higher education institutions on a categorized basis and develop discipline adjustment mechanisms and talent training models” in its future policies, aiming to accelerate the country’s scientific and technological development and the implementation of national strategies.

In April, nine government agencies jointly released a three-year action plan to “expedite the cultivation of digital talent to support the development of the digital economy.” As outlined in the plan, a comprehensive cultivation framework integrating industry associations, enterprises, and higher education institutions will be established to better align talent with market needs.

As the digital sector becomes a major growth driver of the Chinese economy, the structure of the country’s job market requires further fine-tuning. Li Qiang, vice president of Zhaopin, called for consistent efforts to create high-caliber talent and provide them with fulfilling jobs, enabling relevant businesses to thrive.

An official estimate indicates that 2024 will see 11.79 million students graduating from colleges across the country, marking an increase of 210,000 from 2023. This influx of graduates underscores the pressing need to match talent with the rapidly evolving demands of the digital economy.