How AI is transforming China’s workforce

At Xunfei Healthcare’s office in Hefei, Anhui province, former gastroenterologist Hu Pingping spends his days analyzing how large language modeling (LLM) can diagnose complex disease cases. After switching to AI training combined with expertise 5 years ago, Pingping has created a new job for himself.

Job changes like Pingping reflect a broader picture in the career field in China. As AI integrates into every field, many new roles are born and develop rapidly, such as AI content annotators, AI product managers or AI animators. This technology is considered to be lowering the barriers to entrepreneurship, empowering workers to improve their skills to maintain competitiveness in China.

According to the 2025 Global AI Job Market report by auditing firm PwC, nearly all positions related to artificial intelligence have increased recruitment. Workers with AI skills are paid 56% more, up 25% from the previous year.

Data from online recruitment platform Zhaopin shows that in the fourth quarter of 2025, the number of jobs in the AI ​​sector in China increased by 19% over the same period last year. Leading the way are the positions of algorithm engineer, computer vision specialist, and robot algorithm developer.

“AI is driving the workforce towards higher value-added roles, focusing on human-machine coordination, as well as intelligent support,” Liu Cong, Research Director of AI company iFLYTEK, told China Daily.

Change to adapt

With AI participating in every aspect of life, humanoid robots appearing on production lines, smart devices operating on farms, or artificial intelligence tools increasing the efficiency of office work, there are concerns about the problem of job loss. The rapid development of AI is shortening career life cycles, while challenging the traditional notion of “mastering a skill for life”, making it difficult for workers to transition to new careers.

In that context, accelerating the process of innovating knowledge and skills to keep up with new technology and adapt more quickly to changes in the labor market becomes important. This wave is now spreading to Hanzheng Street (Hanzheng), a wholesale market with a history of more than 550 years old, famous as the “commercial source” of Wuhan city. Businessmen and small businesses here are actively adapting to AI applications. For example, an artificial intelligence training course last month attracted more than 50 local garment business owners to attend.

“The response was amazing,” said Wang Ruijue, the show’s organizer Technology News China.

Ruijue said, attendees were of all ages, from the generation born in 2000 to those born before 1970. Many of them brought their children and grandchildren to learn more AI skills.

Yang Jian, who used to be a fashion designer but moved into the AI ​​business, evaluates the “superior” artificial intelligence tool in revolutionizing the garment supply chain, from design and production to marketing.

AI also helps reduce start-up barriers in China. A typical example is the rise of “one person companies” (OPCs) – individuals who can take advantage of AI to set up businesses, from creating content, strategy, operations to providing services. Some cities in China, such as Suzhou, are promoting themselves as OPC-friendly places with policies promoting this type.

Industry experts believe that OPC growth will develop strongly if AI technology is widely applied, human resources proficient in new technology, combined with local policies and support platforms. Wei Qing, Chief Technology Officer of Microsoft China, said that as artificial intelligence is as popular as electricity or smartphones, using AI for startups and solving real-life problems is becoming an essential skill, helping “one person operate as a whole team”.

Comprehensive skill upgrade

As the pace of AI application in China grows rapidly, the question is: is there anything uniquely human left in the modern working environment? Experts say that factors such as imagination, aesthetic taste, critical thinking and emotional intelligence are human advantages that AI cannot replace.

Professor Zhang Junping of Fudan University in Shanghai introduced a new concept called “multidisciplinary career” to talk about the future of careers in the AI ​​era. In the coming time, a person’s working life will revolve around many different fields.

“This will be an important skill for future employment,” Junping explains. “Employees need to avoid relying on a single skill or profession. Because AI can shorten the path from apprentice to expert, everyone needs to develop comprehensively to improve their ability to fight risks at work.”

Against this background, Junping proposed bringing “AI thinking” into early education at a young age. However, he warned against “overreliance on AI”, instead prioritizing the need to practice self-learning ability and nurture unique imagination.

Theo Trivium Chinarecently, China has also begun to encourage people to hone their job skills and master AI. Early last year, the country launched the national AI Plus initiative to elevate artificial intelligence from a technical tool to a core driving force in restructuring production, shaping industrial models and reorganizing value chains. In particular, the initiative proposes to support artificial intelligence skills training from elementary school level, stimulating creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship as well as improving each person’s qualifications, creating an advantage when looking for a job.

Ministries in China also got involved. China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology last year issued a document outlining measures such as forecasting talent demand in the AI ​​industry, as well as supporting higher education institutions in planning and optimizing related majors and programs. Meanwhile, Chinese Minister of Manpower and Social Security Wang Xiaoping said China will accelerate efforts to build a system for monitoring, early warning and responding to the impact of AI on employment, and pursue a technology development roadmap that is friendly to the labor market.