Editor's note:?Zhao Wen, a research fellow at the Institute of Population and Labor Economics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, spoke to Guangming Daily about why new occupations are important for employment in China and how they can be made more sustainable. Below are excerpts of the interview. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

Widely distributed in the digital economy, smart manufacturing, modern services, and green and low-carbon industries, new occupations have already created a large number of jobs.

New occupations can help in optimizing the employment structure. Since these occupations are mostly in knowledge-intensive and technology-intensive sectors, they require workers to have sophisticated skills and therefore be paid higher salaries.

Along with these new occupations will come new ways of working, such as the work mode based on the "cloud" and supported by internet platforms. These new modes will offer fresh opportunities for workers living in small towns.

Currently, three fields have great potential for fostering new occupations. The first involves new business forms driven by artificial intelligence, big data and cloud computing technologies. The development of these technologies has led to the emergence of new jobs, such as generative AI system testers, specialists operating and maintaining cloud networking systems and trainers of AI digital humans.

The second involves sectors nurtured by emerging consumer demand. People's need for better services has spawned new professions such as sleep health counselors.

The third field is powered by other cutting-edge technologies. The advancement of the low-altitude economy, the new energy sector and the energy conservation and environmental protection industry has cultivated new occupations such as drone swarm flight planners, carbon emissions managers and hydrogen fuel cell testers.

The vitality of these new occupations depends on whether they can meet the demand from industries and consumers and create economic and social value. A mechanism is needed to align new occupations with industrial needs. Big data analysis of industries, surveys of companies and skills gap assessment should be conducted on a regular basis to follow the trends in AI, the low-altitude economy, smart manufacturing and other emerging sectors, and ensure that the new occupations are developed in accordance with market needs.

Industries and universities should collaborate more closely on this. Major companies, industry associations and universities can work together to formulate standards for new occupations and design courses so that students are equipped with skills truly needed for the jobs.

In addition, a feedback system is necessary for assessing the employment of new occupations. Requirements for positions, as well as training courses, should be adjusted according to the feedback and the need for industrial upgrading.

People's needs for personalized, refined and diverse services are growing. New occupations enjoy enormous potential in these sectors. These new occupations should keep following people's demands, and continue to improve the quality of the services offered.

New occupations echo job preferences of the younger generation, who prioritize self-fulfillment. Relying on personal skills, aesthetic judgment and creativity, most new occupations allow young people to integrate their interests with careers and pursue personalized development.

Young people aspire for flexibility and freedom, something that new occupations can provide. Without fixed working hours and office locations, some new occupations grant young people greater autonomy. Since they are developing at a rapid pace, new occupations may create new possibilities in the future.