Friday, February 7, 2025
When I recently chatted with a friend about our daily routines, she shared her activities, which included exercise, practicing calligraphy and piano, cooking, reading, and writing. I shared mine as well, but what stuck with me was her comment: "A fulfilling life, with a sense of achievement from learning and writing." Her words reflected a life enriched by continuous learning and satisfaction that comes from writing and intellectual growth, and also by interactions like this.
On a different note, I was intrigued by the announcement at the end of July 2024 by China’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, which announced 19 new occupations and 28 new job types. These new roles, spanning various industries, can be grouped into three main categories: service-related jobs, those linked to cutting-edge technologies, and those focused on green, low-carbon, and clean energy.
In 2019, the median income of Chinese people is expected to exceed $10,000. From the experience of developed countries, once a society reaches this income threshold, wealth tends to shift from manufacturing to the service industry. In other words, people will spend more on services, making the service sector increasingly profitable. The service industry broadly encompasses all professions that involve direct interaction with people and create value through meaningful connections.
Take one service job for example, ski patrols (滑雪巡救员, huá xuě xún jiù yuán), belonging to the first category, life service job. As living standards rise in China, more people are enjoying and engaging in outdoor activities like skiing. Over the past two years, participation in skiing has surged, with 35.42 million people taking part, and the total number of ski visits reaching 54.82 million. Skiing is a high-risk sport, often joked about with the saying, "the end of the ski slope is orthopedics."
In the past, ski resort rescue teams were typically composed of ski instructors who lacked medical training in injury assessment or emergency care. This gap has created a demand for specialized ski patrols. Alongside ski patrols, other emerging roles in the skiing industry include snowmakers, snow-slope planners, and ski instructors.
This shift in the job market highlights more than just new occupations; it’s a reflection of China’s rising living standards. As more people have the means to engage in expensive outdoor activities like skiing, we see a broader cultural shift—one where leisure and personal well-being are becoming integral to everyday life. The growing demand for ski patrols, snowmakers, and ski instructors is just one example of how rising affluence is giving rise to new industries. As the economy continues to evolve, the connection between growing wealth and the diversification of work opportunities will only become more pronounced.
Continue tomorrow...