Ningxia aims to cultivate more than 1,200 highly skilled workers by 2035

The Ningxia Hui autonomous region in Northwest China plans to cultivate more than 1,200 master craftsmen and skilled workers by 2035 as it steps up industrial workforce reform, officials said at a meeting in Yinchuan, capital of Ningxia, on April 8.

Under the plan, Ningxia aims to train around 20 national-level master craftsmen, 200 regional master craftsmen and about 1,000 municipal-level craftsmen as part of broader efforts to strengthen its industrial workforce.

A meeting on industrial workforce development is held in Yinchuan, capital of Northwest China’s Ningxia Hui autonomous region, on April 8.

In recent years, Ningxia has introduced 65 policy measures to support industrial worker development, establishing a preliminary policy framework for workforce reform. The region has built 30 national and regional high-skilled talent training bases and 89 master craftsman studios. It has also selected 30 recipients of the “Saishang Craftsman” award, including two candidates for the national-level master craftsman program.

Nearly 600,000 people have received vocational skills training in Ningxia, while 138 organizations have been authorized to independently assess workers’ vocational skill levels.

Authorities have also expanded career advancement channels by introducing a new eight-tier vocational skill ranking system and piloting the appointment of 14 senior technicians.

To date, Ningxia has honored 61 “Saishang Skill Masters” and 130 regional technical experts. Three individuals have received the China Skills Award, while 51 have been named national technical experts.

More than 50 highly skilled workers have received special government allowances or regional talent awards.

By the end of 2024, Ningxia had more than 1.53 million skilled workers, including nearly 168,000 highly skilled personnel, according to official data.

A meeting on industrial workforce development is held in Yinchuan, capital of Northwest China’s Ningxia Hui autonomous region, on April 8.

The region is also seeking to expand the industrial workforce through closer integration between vocational education and industry demand, while improving lifelong vocational training systems and promoting work-study integrated training models. The region will step up skills training for rural workers and attract more qualified migrant workers into the industrial workforce.

Ningxia will also further improve career mobility for industrial workers by exploring mutual recognition between academic education and vocational certifications, while creating more opportunities for skills competitions and technological innovation programs.

In addition, the region pledged stronger support for frontline workers, migrant workers and financially disadvantaged employees through assistance programs, medical support initiatives and labor protection measures.

The meeting stressed the need to build stronger coordination in advancing industrial workforce development reform by improving mechanisms for communication, policy consultation, joint research and information sharing.

Member units of the Ningxia industrial workforce development reform coordination group will implement tasks in line with the overall plan, strengthen coordination with government departments and industry associations, and encourage greater participation from enterprises to achieve mutually beneficial development for all parties.