AI reshaping China's workforce

AI, notably, is also lowering entrepreneurial barriers in China.

An example is the rise of one-person company (OPC), where individuals leverage AI tools for content creation, operations and service delivery. Cities like Suzhou in East China's Jiangsu province are promoting themselves as OPC-friendly hubs.

Industry insiders believe that this OPC rise is mainly driven by widespread adoption of AI technology, supportive local policies and platforms, and a growing talent pool.

Wei Qing, Microsoft China's chief technology officer, said that as AI becomes as commonplace as electricity and the telephone, using it to launch ventures and solve real-world problems is turning into an essential skill. Also, evolving applications like AI agents are making it possible for "one person to function like a full team".

With AI generating content at staggering speeds, one could be tempted to question if anything remains uniquely human in today's workplace. Experts respond to such musings by pointing to imagination, aesthetic sense, critical thinking and emotional intelligence as irreplaceable human advantages.

A "slash career", which refers to a working life revolving around multiple professions, will be important for future employment, said Zhang Junping, a professor at Shanghai-based Fudan University.

"Employees must avoid relying on a single skill or a single profession," Zhang explained, adding that since AI shortens the path from novice to expert, people have to develop comprehensive capabilities to enhance their capacity to withstand risks in terms of employment.

Zhang suggested including "AI thinking" in youth education, but at the same time also cautioned against "overreliance on AI", stressing that priority should be given to exercising independent learning and cultivating unique imagination.

China's national initiative, known as "AI Plus", proposes support for AI skills training to stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship, while also boosting the potential to secure reemployment. Departments including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology also issued a document outlining measures such as conducting forecasts for talent demand in the AI industry, releasing talent demand forecast reports, and supporting higher education institutions in planning and optimizing relevant disciplines and programs.

Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Wang Xiaoping said China will accelerate efforts to build a monitoring, early-warning and response system for AI's impact on employment and follow an employment-friendly technology development path.

Xinhua