China's thriving new energy vehicle (NEV) industry is fueling an unprecedented demand for skilled professionals due to its high level of automation and intelligence.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the industry is projected to require 1.2 million talents by 2025.
The rising demand for talents has been witnessed firsthand by a laser radar manufacturer for new energy vehicles based in Shenzhen, an innovation hub in south China's Guangdong Province.
Xie Xing, the head of human resources at the company, revealed a significant surge in recruitment compared to the previous years.
"We have seen a recruitment growth in our hardware division for laser radar, as well as in the chip division, the algorithm and software development division. Over the past two years, our recruitment numbers have nearly doubled. Especially in the division of AI algorithms and software development, the recruitment is even larger," said Xie.
The thirst is strong especially for high-skilled talents in research and development, manufacturing, and product service sectors, as well as for sales and maintenance personnels.
The demand for multidisciplinary talents is huge as well.
"In the job market, there will be a particularly strong demand for high-end, multidisciplinary, and younger professional talents," said Zhang Lei, vice general manager of a human resource company in Shenzhen.
The increasing demand for talent in the new energy vehicle industry has led to more and more universities and colleges to introduce programs and disciplines related to new energy vehicle technology.
As of 2023, data indicated that out of China's 1,545 higher vocational colleges, 716 offered programs in new energy vehicle technology, an increase of 1.5 times compared to 2018.
Shenzhen Technology University, for instance, has witnessed a surge in enrollment in its various fields of study.
"In the first year, we had around 50 students. Now we have more than 200 students annually, with a curriculum covering a wide range of subjects including vehicle mechanics, electronics, battery systems, electrical control, intelligent driving, robot sensing and data fusion, and even business and ergonomics. Our goal is to train over 500 students per year," said Li Heyan, a professor of Shenzhen Technology University.
With more and more schools offering programs in new energy vehicle technology, the talent shortage in the industry is expected to be eased in the foreseeable future.
China's NEV industry sees increased demand for talents amid automation, intelligence development
A festive atmosphere is building up as people across China have been making preparations to ring in the Spring Festival next week, with lights and decorations set everywhere, and with New Year goods markets all seeing booming sales.
The Spring Festival, which marks the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year, is the most important annual holiday in China, when people across the country return to their hometowns for Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations and family reunion.
In Xi'an City of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, a grand lantern show is in its final stage of preparation before opening to the public ahead of the eve of the 2025 Chinese Lunar New Year. To be lit up on Wednesday, the large light sets presented at the event will draw numerous visitors, with lanterns that replicate 38 cultural relics as the highlight.
Buying New Year flowers has been a custom for Chinese people. In Yancheng City of east China's Jiangsu Province, various flowers which have auspicious meanings are already in high demand.
This year, tulips bred locally have been put on sale, and quickly become a favorable choice for many customers.
"I have never seen this kind of flower before. I think it is really bright-colored. Therefore, I decided to buy some to enhance the festive atmosphere at home," said Zhang Jinjian, a local resident.
The Anchang ancient town in Shaoxing City of east China's Zhejiang Province has a time-honored custom of making aired sausages and spiced duck.
As the Spring Festival draws near, plenty of visitors and tourists choose to purchase these local delicacies as ingredients for their Chinese New Year feast.
"The number of tourists has been increasing, so the sales of our spiced meat have been quite good. Compared with the same period of last year, our sales is expected to increase by about 50,000 yuan (about 6,835 U.S. dollars). We will earn an additional 200,000 to 300,000 yuan (27,335 to 41,000 U.S. dollars) in sales during this whole winter," said Yang Jing, owner of a local spiced meat shop.
In southwest China's Yunnan Province, the "Tiaocai dance" is a time-honored tradition of the Yi ethnic minority group. The dance is presented in the form of serving dishes while dancing to the rhythm. It usually happens on a joyous or grand occasion.
Since the most significant annual festival is around the corner, Yi people have dressed up in traditional costumes, and got ready to welcome the arrival of the Chinese Lunar New Year with the special dance.
People across China make preparations to welcome Spring Festival