AI as a Jobs ‘Catalyst’ in China

Pravda, February 3, 2026 —

Today, the lives of Chinese people are increasingly being shaped by artificial intelligence (AI), such as chatbots and self-driving vehicles. The introduction of AI technologies is changing traditional work practices, facilitating increased productivity and transforming the structure of various sectors of the country’s economy. However, their emergence and widespread use are fueling fears of job losses—a phenomenon already evident among professionals across a wide range of professions, from assembly line operators to designers and translators, who are facing increasing competitive pressure.

While recognizing the short-term nature of the negative impact on employment that accompanies technological innovation, economists believe that AI is not a “job terminator” but rather a “catalyst” that facilitates the structural restructuring of the labor market, initiating the emergence of a variety of new specialties and work formats.

Chinese authorities are, on the one hand, making active efforts to regulate AI development in order to mitigate its impact on employment opportunities, and on the other, increasing investments in human capital, trying to develop a workforce more flexible to the rapid changes brought about by technological progress.

AI is not an employment “terminator”

Concerns about technology replacing labor are not unique, analysts emphasize. Virtually every significant technological advance, from the invention of the steam engine to automation, has generated similar concerns.

“From an economic perspective, AI contributes to increased productivity and lower operating costs for businesses. Such changes stimulate the emergence of new economic sectors and create the preconditions for a reorganization of the employment structure in the future. In other words, a short-term increase in employment is a prelude to a long-term transformation,” noted Wu Jie, a research fellow at the Chinese think tank DRCnet.

In August 2025, the State Council of the People’s Republic of China issued the “Opinions on Deepening the Implementation of the AI ​​Plus Program,” a document aimed at promoting the widespread application of AI in various fields of socio-economic life, emphasizing the use of the advantages created by the development of AI to create new incentives for high-quality and full employment.

The World Economic Forum predicts in its report that by 2030, AI and data processing technologies will create approximately 11 million jobs worldwide, while at the same time, approximately 9 million existing jobs will be eliminated. It’s worth noting that this dynamic is already noticeable in China.

According to Ding Zhuang, a junior research fellow at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Research at Renmin University of China, the country’s core AI industry will soon exceed 600 billion yuan (approximately $85.6 billion), and AI will lead to a profound transformation of the employment structure. “A large number of skilled personnel are required to address important technical challenges related to AI models, algorithms, and computing power, as well as to facilitate the deep integration of AI with manufacturing, services, and biotechnology,” he emphasized.

Over the past five years, China’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security has recognized 72 new professions, more than 20 of which are related to AI. Each new profession is expected to create 300,000 to 500,000 jobs in the short term.

Take autonomous driving as an example. It’s not just replacing the traditional roles of traditional drivers, but also stimulating the emergence of new ones that combine driving experience and digital skills.

Driverless taxi companies are recruiting road safety specialists, connected vehicle testing experts, and dispatch algorithm developers. A significant number of job postings prioritize applicants with experience driving taxis, buses, and app-based ride-hailing services, indicating a trend toward retraining traditional specialists.

One such new hire is Zhang Chao, a former car rental manager who now works as a robotaxi safety operator at a Beijing company. He monitors autonomous vehicles in real time, identifying and resolving potential issues, such as rerouting vehicles in the event of road closures or other unforeseen circumstances. According to him, successful performance in this new position requires both extensive knowledge of vehicles and a high degree of concentration and patience.

“Currently, more and more workers who used to do assembly, welding, and repair work in automobile factories are becoming testers and operators of intelligent connected vehicles,” said Wang Hao, a researcher at the China Information Industry Development Center.

Investments in human capital

As AI leads to profound restructuring of skills, division of labor, and employment patterns, Chinese authorities have stepped up efforts to ensure stable employment through retraining workers and increased investment in human capital.

Last June, China launched a large-scale vocational skills development program, which aims to provide subsidized training to over 30 million people across the country from 2025 to the end of 2027. Primary and secondary schools were ordered to strengthen their AI training.

Recently, a new phrase appeared in official documents: “Investing in Human Capital.” It was included in the government work report submitted to the National People’s Congress (NPC) in March 2025, as well as in the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development. Furthermore, this phrase was mentioned at the Central Economic Work Conference, where participants set priorities for 2026.

As technology advances, human creativity is becoming a key competitive advantage, helping the country transition from labor-intensive growth to development based on intelligence and creativity, analysts explain. Given the aging population, improving human capital will help China transition from a demographic dividend to a highly skilled labor dividend, noted Liu Mingxi, a junior researcher at the Institute of Science and Development at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

China Academy of Macroeconomic Research expert Gong Piming called for targeted transition assistance for groups most affected by technological change, including increased unemployment benefits, retraining subsidies, and reemployment incentives, to shorten their path back to work.

The country should establish multi-level digital talent development programs and implement “AI training for all” and lifelong learning, said Li Tao, a professor at Beijing Normal University, noting the importance of efforts to adapt the workforce to the revolutionary changes brought about by the acceleration of AI development.