Live-Streaming Is Now Officially A Profession In China
The country has 15 million people who work as live-streamers.
By Sukhbir Cheema — 01 Aug 2024, 12:41 PM
If you're a live-streamer based in China, you can now tell your relatives and friends that it's a profession that is no longer a side gig
China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security recently added live-streamers alongside other new jobs to its officially recognised professions list.
The addition comes as China acknowledges the need for the digital sector and smart manufacturing to be among its economic growth areas for the future. This includes the 15 million people who work as live-streamers in the country.
The new jobs were revealed in the ministry's notice on 31 July.
In total, 19 new jobs were added to China's officially recognised professions list
They include artificial intelligence (AI) system application specialists, planning and operations engineers (cultural products), administrators of intelligent manufacturing systems, and bioengineering technicians.
"The release of new occupations is of great significance for developing jobs, guiding vocational education and training, improving the standards of employees and promoting employment and entrepreneurship," the ministry said in its notice, according to the South China Morning Post.
The list was updated following a public consultation that began in 2023.
Live-streaming in China, specifically selling e-commerce products, has helped increase job opportunities and reduce the jobless rate
According to research by China's Renmin University, military veterans, migrants and students work as live-streamers as they struggle to find jobs.
What's amazing is that live-streaming has helped create 1,100 new jobs with every 100 million yuan (RM63 million) that helped to increase the gross merchandise value. This led to a dip in the jobless rate for those between 16 to 24 to 13.2% in June this year. In May, the jobless rate was at 14.2%.
Meanwhile, the jobless rate for those between 25 and 29 has been declining. June marked the third consecutive month of decline as the jobless rate fell to 6.4%. The jobless rate for the 30 to 59 age group has remained unchanged at 4% since May.
China aims to build a highly skilled workforce and expects skilled professionals to account for around 30% of the country's working population by 2025. Recognising emerging professions such as live-streaming will allow practitioners to have a sense of belonging and enjoy national policy benefits that relate to their jobs, a human resources official said to Xinhua news agency.
