Coordinating the development of digital jobs and careers

A new version of the national occupation classification dictionary released to the public after revisions has added 97 "digital" occupations, accounting for 6 percent of the total number of occupations.

The revised dictionary better reflects economic and social changes in the job market, and behind the inclusion of so many digital occupations is the booming development of the digital economy. In the digital economy development program during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period issued by the State Council in 2021, the digital economy was listed as a main economic form after the agricultural economy and industrial economy. And the scale of China's digital economy reached 45.5 trillion yuan ($6.31 trillion) in 2021, accounting for 39.8 percent of the GDP.

Last year, the National Bureau of Statistics released a document on the digital economy and its core industry statistical classification, demarcating the basic scope of the digital economy. Some regions, such as Beijing and Shanghai, have also formulated their own plans for the development of the digital economy.

The emergence of digital occupations has provided new employment space for workers. The inclusion of these new jobs in the national occupation classification dictionary not only provides clearer content for the requirements and career development paths of these occupations, but also has a positive guidance and support effect on the ability improvement, career planning and life value realization of the practitioners.

To promote the healthy development of digital occupations, the authorities should regulate the development of vocational training activities, formulate a training system of relevant skills and qualities of each occupation in a timely manner, and guide all sectors of society to scientifically understand the role of vocational standards and training. As an important place for talent training, universities should set some new majors according to the demand of new occupations, design talent training programs, and adjust teaching contents and training methods in some existing majors to optimize the knowledge and skill structure of the students.