President Xi Jinping has highlighted the urgent need for China to transition to a modern industry focused on high technology and innovation, as the country’s rapidly modernizing industries require skilled workers. Despite this, there remains a nationwide shortage of millions of well-trained workers in China. The government has been trying to establish a dual training system similar to European models for over two decades, but it has faced challenges in implementation.
The lack of clearly defined training occupations, quality issues in vocational training programs, and the mismatch between education and labor market demand have hindered the success of vocational training initiatives in China. While foreign-financed companies have implemented successful vocational training programs, these projects alone cannot meet the demand for skilled workers. In addition, many university graduates struggle to find jobs that match their qualifications despite efforts to expand higher education significantly in recent years.
Despite President Xi Jinping’s suggestion that university graduates should move to the countryside to help farmers with their work, this has been met with skepticism by students. The employment rate for university graduates in China remains low, indicating a mismatch between education and job market demand. To address these challenges, significant changes are needed in China’s vocational training and higher education systems.
