China is expanding its occupational landscape with new professions linked to artificial intelligence, drones, humanoid robots and other emerging technologies. The latest update adds 11 occupations and 23 job types to the national occupational classification, reflecting changes in the country’s industries and growing demand for new services.
The new professions are included in the eighth batch released by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and other government departments, as reported by Global Times, a TV BRICS partner. Among them are drone swarm flight planners, low-altitude logistics specialists and low-altitude intelligent connected system administrators, reflecting the rapid development of China’s low-altitude economy.
The expanding digital economy is also creating new roles, including AI engineering technicians, intelligent connected vehicle testers, embodied intelligent robot application technicians and microgrid administrators.
More recent updates have expanded beyond individual technical roles to cover applications in logistics, cultural tourism and urban governance. Industry experts say this progression reflects the shift towards more advanced, intelligent and green forms of industrial development.
Beyond technology-driven industries, the latest changes also reflect the evolution of consumer and producer services. As living standards improve, producer services are becoming more specialised and moving towards higher-value activities, while consumer services are developing towards greater quality, diversity and convenience.
China’s service sector is expected to exceed 100 trillion yuan (about US$14.8 trillion) during the 15th Five-Year Plan period from 2026 to 2030, according to the National Development and Reform Commission. Industry experts expect residential services, healthcare, elderly care and childcare to offer further opportunities for employment growth.
According to Li Chang’an, a researcher at the Academy of China Open Economy Studies under the University of International Business and Economics, new occupations emerge in response to technological applications, market changes and evolving consumer demand.
The continued expansion of the occupational catalogue is expected to support the development of new industries by strengthening professional standards, aligning talent training with market needs and creating conditions for the growth of emerging sectors.