China has recognised 11 new occupations and 23 new specialities, highlighting changing demand for digital, green, manufacturing and service skills.
From embodied intelligence robot technicians to incense-making artisans, China’s latest additions to its official occupational list offer a glimpse into how technology, industry and everyday needs are reshaping the labour market.
China on Sept. 9 officially recognised 11 new occupations and 23 new specialities under existing occupations. The list includes digital twin engineering technicians, embodied intelligence robot technicians, sports data analysts, hydrogen fuel cell manufacturing workers and corporate sustainability planners.
The authorities also revised information on six existing occupations or specialities.
Rather than simply adding new job titles, the latest update reflects changes in the types of skills and services increasingly needed in the economy.
Digital Skills Take the Lead
Digital technology is one of the clearest themes in the new list.
Five of the 11 new occupations are classified as digital occupations. They include digital twin engineering technicians, embodied intelligence robot technicians, industrial product digital modelling specialists, sports data analysts and satellite navigation equipment technicians.
The addition of an occupation related to embodied intelligence robots is particularly notable. As robotics moves beyond industrial production and into more areas of physical activity, new technical roles are emerging around the development, application and maintenance of these systems.
Other new specialities point to similar changes. AI agent developers, low-altitude logistics operators and low-altitude intelligent network system administrators are among the 23 new specialities added under existing occupations.
As a result, China now has 113 officially recognised digital occupations.
Green Jobs and New Industrial Demand
Green development is another major feature of the new list.
Three of the 11 new occupations are classified as green occupations: microgrid administrators, hydrogen fuel cell manufacturing workers and water electrolysis hydrogen production workers. The number of officially recognised green occupations in China has now reached 142.
These occupations are closely connected with energy transition and the development of new energy technologies. At the same time, they show how changes in industrial policy and technology can translate into specific skills and jobs.
The broader occupational data also points to the role of services and manufacturing.
Since 2019, China has released eight batches of new occupations, bringing the total to 121. Social production and life services account for 60 per cent of these occupations, while professional and technical occupations and manufacturing-related occupations each account for 17 per cent.
By industry, modern services account for 43 per cent of the new occupations, while advanced manufacturing accounts for 34 per cent.
From AI Agents to Incense Making
Not all the new jobs are about advanced technology.
Some are closely linked to changing consumer needs and everyday life. The latest list includes incense-making artisans, age-friendly renovation designers, fresh-cut flower processing workers, ice-and-snow sculptors and community workers.
There are also occupations related to electric vehicles and urban management, such as new-energy vehicle inspectors and airport obstacle-clearance inspectors.
Alongside jobs created by digitalisation and new energy, there are occupations serving an ageing population, growing consumer demand and more specialised services.
For example, age-friendly renovation designers work in an area linked to the needs of an ageing society. Community workers reflect demand for local services. Meanwhile, occupations such as incense-making and ice-and-snow sculpture are tied to more specialised cultural and leisure activities.
The new occupations range from emerging technologies and green industries to services shaped by changing needs in everyday life.
Written by Ronnie Yu, Additional reporting by Xinhua, HKCNA.
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