China calls for AI skills training to help graduates find jobs

CHINA’S education ministry called on universities nationwide to add vocational courses and provide training on artificial intelligence (AI) applications to help students find jobs as the world’s second-biggest economy confronts a record number of graduates this year. 

Universities are required to help students become more employable by establishing vocational training centres and collaborating with enterprises to offer 1,000 micro majors and 1,000 vocational training courses, according to a notice from the Ministry of Education. 

The institutions should also solicit employment and education projects in the field of AI and carry out specialised training on AI applications, the ministry added. 

Beijing previously estimated that there will be a record 12.22 million university graduates in 2025.

The jobless rate among people aged 16 to 24 was 15.7 per cent last December, nearly a full percentage point higher than a year earlier despite declining in recent months.

China changed the methodology for calculating the figure after youth unemployment hit a historic high in 2023.