China lays out 3-year plan to build digital workforce and overcome shortfall of workers needed to win tech race

Under plan, China will introduce professional titles for digital engineers, tailor to the needs of firms and boost international talent cooperation

Local governments encouraged to provide perks, including incentives in housing, start-up investment and schooling and jobs for the family of digital workers

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The Chinese government has launched a multi-pronged approach to filling its advanced tech workforce needs, including directing universities, industry and government bodies on how to recruit and keep digital talent. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 5:07pm, 17 Apr 2024Updated: 5:16pm, 17 Apr 2024

China has launched a three-year action plan to nurture and attract digital talent and workers in its tilt towards an innovation-driven economy as it competes with the West on tech.

China will launch an array of programmes and campaigns until 2026 to train digital engineers, technicians and workers in areas including big data, artificial intelligence, smart manufacturing, integrated circuits and data security, according to a Chinese government circular released on Wednesday.

The plan also aimed to attract foreign high-level digital talent, support overseas returnees starting innovative businesses and organise “high-level digital talent to return from overseas to serve the country”, the document said.

The action plan aims to accelerate human resource development for the digital economy, paving the way for “new productive forces” – a term coined by Chinese President Xi Jinping last year – according to the document. It was issued by nine government departments and party organs, led by the labour ministry and the Organisation Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party.

New productive forces mean “advanced productivity freed from traditional economic growth models” and feature “high technology, high efficiency and high quality”, Xi said during a study session of the central Politburo earlier this year.

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