96.1 percent of young Chinese say they could try a new career

A total of 96.1 percent of respondents in a recent survey said they are willing to attempt a new career if they had the opportunity, China Youth Daily reported on Wednesday.

The survey polled 2,000 Chinese aged 18 to 35, of which college students and this year's gaokao attendees accounted for 45.8 percent and 27.3 percent respectively, in addition to 26.1 percent being working people.

About 62.5 percent believed new occupations can inspire employees to expand their personal value and gain more perspective.

78.3 percent of those surveyed hold that economic development and its many emerging formats gave rise to new professions; 56 percent of the respondents agree new professions are "blue oceans", or new areas of business where competition is irrelevant, which can provide more opportunities for career development.

Earlier this month, nine new professions were added to the national occupation list. The new professions, mostly in the public health sector and emerging industries, include blockchain technicians, online marketers, information security testers, online learning consultants and community health assistants, among others, according to a statement jointly issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and other departments.

In the survey, 67 percent of young Chinese thought colleges and universities will make academic adjustments in response to the emergence of new professions, and 65.2 percent believed college students will make more independent and diverse career plans.

Meanwhile, 58.7 percent of respondents thought that new professions could change people's traditional attitudes toward job-seeking and eliminate hiring biases, while 46 percent of respondents assumed that this could lead a vocational education reform.

"New professions not only need the assistance of social mobilization and guidance for college candidates, but also require better teaching staff and financial aid from universities and colleges," said Tang Zhisong, a professor at Chongqing-based Southwest University.

To better promote development of new professions, 67.9 percent of respondents suggested training for those in new careers, while 56.7 percent of respondents preferred the setup of appropriate entry thresholds.