A new profession called "AI trainer" — specialists who help train artificial intelligence models — is gaining significant attention in China as the country's AI industry experiences rapid growth.
In Shanghai, 16,300 people sat for the AI trainer vocational skill level assessment last year, of whom 10,900 obtained certification, People's Daily reported Monday. Hiring demand for AI trainers in Shanghai surged more than 30%, reflecting strong growth in the field.
AI trainers are an emerging profession responsible for supporting the training and optimization of AI products to ensure they function properly in real-world environments. Initially, the role centered on relatively simple tasks such as data annotation and performance evaluation. More recently, however, the scope has expanded to include processing data for industry-specific AI models (vertical AI), adjusting model parameters, and designing embodied intelligence workflows.
Zhong Junhao, secretary-general of the Shanghai AI Industry Association, attributed the surge in public interest to fundamental market forces. "Industry demand is the fundamental driving force," he said. "The cycle of change in AI technology is getting shorter, so training content must also be updated rapidly. In some industrial sectors, a certain level of domain expertise is required."
Training programs are being restructured accordingly to emphasize practical skills. Current curricula are designed with hands-on practice accounting for as much as 70% of course content, reflecting a strong focus on real-world applicability.
A shortage of hybrid talent — professionals who combine both technical skills and industry knowledge — is particularly acute on the ground. An official from a company based in Shanghai's AI industrial park Modu Space said, "We especially lack hybrid talent with backgrounds in both technology and vertical industries. In the market, the supply of talent meeting these requirements cannot keep up with demand, leading to longer hiring periods and rising costs."
The AI sector is establishing itself as a key pillar of new job creation. "The scale of China's core AI industry continues to expand, creating abundant employment opportunities," People's Daily reported. "Of the 72 new professions announced by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security over the past five years, more than 20 are related to AI."
