Chinese Experts Urge 2026-30 Jobs Goals in Industrial and AI Policy
Updated
Updated · China Daily · Jul 8
Chinese Experts Urge 2026-30 Jobs Goals in Industrial and AI Policy
1 articles · Updated · China Daily · Jul 8
Summary
China should embed employment targets into its 2026-30 industrial, demographic and technology strategies as AI, industrial upgrading and population shifts deepen labor-market mismatches, experts told Shanghai Observer.
Record graduate cohorts are entering the market even as advanced manufacturing, elderly care and the digital economy still lack workers, underscoring a skills gap rather than an overall labor shortage.
Experts called for labor-demand forecasting in key industries, faster adjustments to university majors, stronger industry-academia links and lifelong vocational training to align education with hiring needs.
They also urged employment-friendly digital transformation, faster standards and certification for emerging jobs, and stronger social protection, subsidies and job-retention support for workers displaced by technological change.
The broader goal is a unified national labor market with better mobility, more inclusive hiring beyond credentials, and stronger protection for flexible workers so industrial upgrading and job creation advance together.
As China chases high-tech supremacy, can its ambitious new plan prevent a lost generation of workers?
With 400 million seniors on the horizon, can China's 'silver economy' truly become its next engine for growth?
China’s Proactive AI Labor Strategy: Key Policies and Global Implications, 2026-2030
Overview
China is launching a comprehensive strategy from 2026 to 2030 to address the impact of AI on its labor market. The plan focuses on ensuring stable employment and social security by balancing rapid AI integration with social stability and economic growth. A key shift is moving from an 'employment first' approach to promoting 'high quality and full employment,' aiming for meaningful jobs that improve workforce quality. The government is committed to guiding workers through technological changes, using large-scale vocational training to help them adapt to new, AI-driven roles and prevent large-scale job displacement.