China will use AI to employ a record 12.7 million graduates
At the annual session of the National People’s Congress, Labor Minister Wang Xiaoping stressed that expanding the role of AI will be part of a comprehensive employment strategy, news.cgtn.com wrote. Wang said the government will focus on both AI-enabled job creation and upgrading traditional occupations to “improve the vitality” of the labor market amid economic uncertainty.
Government sources said the number of graduates entering a complex market is becoming a challenge to employment stability, and AI is not seen as a threat but as a tool to enhance job opportunities.
Which occupations are prioritized
China plans to create around 12 million new urban jobs in 2026. This will be done by launching large-scale apprenticeship, training and reskilling programs, especially in high-growth sectors including the digital economy, electric vehicle manufacturing and generative AI.
The authorities also intend to expand support for low-performing traditional industries (such as construction, foreign trade and services) to stabilize existing jobs. But the creation of new professions related to technological development is a priority.
Reaction of international players
According to investing.com, markets reacted cautiously to the government’s announcements, with the Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 index remaining sensitive to news of the employment strategy amid slowing domestic economic growth.
The source notes that the government’s focus on AI as a job creator differs from global concerns about automation displacing humans. By positioning AI as a tool for “job upgrading,” China hopes to stabilize youth unemployment rates, which have come under scrutiny over the past year.
Market participants now await the upcoming trade talks between the U.S. and China for more insights. The key question is how these domestic labor policies may intersect with international restrictions on technology exports.
