BEIJING, May 27 – Ever imagine a generative artificial intelligence (AI) specialist becoming a profession? Several AI-driven careers are already a reality in China. In the wake of rapid digital development, a surge of new professions has recently emerged, broadening the workforce landscape.
Nineteen new jobs were added to China’s list of recognized professions by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MHRSS) on Friday, including network anchor (also called an online news anchor, which can be similar to a live-streamer), generative AI system application specialist, cultural and creative product planning and operations engineer, intelligent manufacturing system operations and maintenance administrator, and bioengineering technician.
The ministry also recognized 29 existing job types, including mobile operating system application designer. The recognition allows people working in the professions to enjoy relevant national policy benefits.
Last October, the ministry publicly solicited information on new occupations and received more than 430 proposals for new occupations, over twice the number of applications seen in 2021, with new occupation applications mainly involving fields such as business services, manufacturing and information technology, according to the ministry.
China’s progress in technological innovation and industrial upgrading is catalyzing a boom in job opportunities, and an increasing number of young people are eyeing opportunities in high-tech and emerging industries such as AI, big data and smart manufacturing.
Data revealed that occupations in the field of emerging high-tech attracted increasing numbers of graduates in 2023, with intelligent manufacturing, AI-generated content and AI large model options being dominant in this regard.
“The digital industry fits well with young people’s interests and personal pursuits, thus offering more vacancies that match their employment expectations,” said Chen Yun, director of the employment and entrepreneurial research office of the Chinese Academy of Labor and Social Security.
Virtual architect, a profession using AI algorithms to build a world in virtual space, is a new occupation often linked to the games industry. It is dedicated to providing immersive experiences for gamers, movie-goers and virtual reality users.
Virtual architects can also construct various scenarios online in catering to customer demands, such as 3D meeting rooms, online press conferences, online exhibitions and virtual museums. Wang said he hopes more people will join him in transforming the imagination of the virtual world into productive forces in reality.
China is expected to see over 11.7 million college graduates in 2024, and the number of young job seekers has continued to grow, according to the MHRSS.
