In Tune With the Times

China’s economic, technological and social evolution sparks rise of new professions

- Ge Lijun

Tian Junzhang never thought he would get the chance to enter an emerging profession. He had always wanted to become a flight attendant, but life had other plans for the young man. A few years ago, Tian found himself drawn to livestreaming on an e-commerce platform as an online sales host. He found this new job so fascinating that in 2019 Tian and his friends decided to launch their own company in this booming field.

This year, he graduated from a university in north China’s Hebei Province and his business couldn’t be better. “Many of the former students from my class now work for an airline. But I decided to work in a job that challenges me more. I am delighted to be able to ride the wave of livestreaming sales. It has changed my life,” he told Hebei Daily.

Much to his surprise, Tian found his new line of work is classified as a “new profession,” in China. In July, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS) identified nine new professions, including the most popular of its kind currently in China: livestreaming host.

As a direct result of China’s latest socio-economic development, these new professions have emerged and brought more opportunities for young people and those seeking jobs. Like Tian, many prefer to acquire new skills to strengthen their competitiveness in an already crowded labor market.

Official recognition