[Correspondent Diary] The Labor Shortage in China with a Population of 1.4 Billion

Top 10 Simple Labor Jobs Among the Top 100 Recruitment Occupations
Manufacturing-Related Job Sectors Also Facing Labor Shortage... Labor Shortage May Worsen After the Chunjeol Holiday

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] China's state-run Xinhua News Agency recently selected and reported the top 100 occupations facing labor shortages. It may be hard to understand the news of job shortages in China, a country with a population of over 1.4 billion, but when viewed in relation to the Chinese economy, the report is not entirely unfounded. From the perspective of industries with increased demand due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and industries that the Chinese government is focusing on fostering, it roughly fits.

According to data released by China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS) considering the job market situation in the fourth quarter of last year, the top 10 occupations with the most severe labor shortages included marketing personnel, cleaners, security guards, salespeople, restaurant staff, domestic helpers, customer service managers, shelf stockers, real estate agents, and welders. The demand for transport workers (couriers and delivery personnel), which surged last year, fell outside the top 10.

The occupations within the top 10 are far from being professional or high-level positions. Most of them are simple labor jobs. This still indicates that simple service labor jobs are needed within China. This is also related to the dual circulation policy emphasized by the Chinese government (which can be broadly interpreted as an economic policy aiming for self-sufficiency).

Additionally, occupations expected to have increased demand due to COVID-19 also appeared in the top ranks. Security guards are a representative example. Looking more closely at this occupation, it includes epidemic prevention personnel. Community welfare workers, childcare workers, and elderly caregivers are also included in this category. Domestic helpers were also included in the top 10. Chinese media report that with rising incomes, more Chinese people are seeking domestic helpers, and demand for postpartum care centers is also increasing.

Expanding the scope to the top 30 occupations with labor shortages, China remains a manufacturing country. Among the top 25 occupations with job shortages, 15 are related to manufacturing. There is a shortage of smelting process technicians, casting-related technicians, automotive engineering technicians, and metal heat treatment technicians. Expanding the scope further, there is also considerable demand for rebar workers, machinery repair workers, and textile dyers.

The Chinese Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security explained that among the 100 occupations facing labor shortages this year, 36 are related to life services, and another 36 are related to production and manufacturing. They added that 19 other occupations are specialized technical jobs.

The Ministry stated that with the economic recovery in 2021, a comprehensive employment shortage is expected.

Meanwhile, within China, there are concerns that labor shortages in certain occupational groups may worsen after the Lunar New Year holiday. This is because migrant workers who returned to their hometowns for the holiday are unlikely to return. Moreover, with stricter COVID-19 prevention procedures in major cities such as Beijing, the labor shortage in certain occupational groups is likely to intensify.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.