China Adds 11 New Occupations as Technology, Services Reshape Job Market
The latest update reflects the growth of emerging technologies, specialized drone-related work and rising demand for healthcare, elderly care and other services.
China has added 11 new occupations and 23 new job types to its national occupational catalog, reflecting the rapid development of emerging industries, digital technologies and changing consumer demand.
The latest additions, released by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and other government departments, include jobs linked to China's expanding low-altitude economy and digital economy.
Among the newly recognized roles are drone swarm flight planners, low-altitude logistics specialists and low-altitude intelligent connected system administrators. Other positions include AI engineering technicians, intelligent connected vehicle testers, embodied intelligent robot application technicians and microgrid administrators.
The latest update is the eighth batch of new occupations released by China since 2019. The country has recognized 121 new occupations during that period, according to the report.
The evolution of drone-related jobs illustrates how emerging industries are creating increasingly specialized roles. China initially recognized drone pilots in 2019 as demand for drone operations grew. Later additions included drone assembly and maintenance technicians, while newer positions have expanded into logistics, cultural tourism and urban governance.
The development reflects China's broader industrial transition toward higher-end, smarter and greener production, according to Li Qiang, vice president of online recruitment platform Zhaopin.
"New occupations are both a precise mapping of the industrial development trends and a positive guide for the talent market," Li said.
The changes are not limited to technology and manufacturing. New occupations are also emerging in response to rising living standards and changing consumer needs.
China's service sector is expected to exceed 100 trillion yuan ($14.8 trillion) during the 15th Five-Year Plan period from 2026 to 2030, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.
Areas including residential services, healthcare, elderly care and childcare are expected to provide additional employment opportunities as demand for higher-quality and more diverse services grows.
China has also introduced new occupations in areas such as healthcare, rehabilitation, family education, age-friendly home renovation and traditional crafts in previous updates to its occupational catalog.
The government has made employment a priority for the 15th Five-Year Plan, with policies aimed at expanding employment in the service sector, labor-intensive industries and emerging fields.
"The emergence of new occupations is a direct response to new applications of technologies, fresh market changes, and new consumer demands," said Li Chang'an, a researcher at the Academy of China Open Economy Studies under the University of International Business and Economics.
As China continues to update its occupational classification system, the emergence of new professions is expected to play a role in aligning vocational training and talent supply with the country's evolving industrial and consumer landscape.