Live-streaming sellers and blockchain engineers are officially jobs in China now

China has a new list of officially recognized jobs, adding to a list that included esports players and drone pilots last year

Jobs

Xinmei Shen

Published: 8:54pm, 13 May, 2020

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This article originally appeared on ABACUS

Selling products through live streaming is now officially a job in China.

China’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security published a new report on Monday recognizing 10 new professions, many of which are related to new technologies. Newly recognized jobs include internet marketing specialists, blockchain engineers, blockchain application operators and online learning service specialists.

Live-streaming salesperson is one of multiple jobs included under internet marketing specialists, according to the ministry’s announcement.

Live-streaming ecommerce has seen rapid growth this year thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. Shoppers confined to their homes turned to live streams to experience products in an interactive and social way. The popularity of the format drew in a wide range of people, including a flamboyant tech founder and celebrities looking to cash in on the trend.

As the new list shows, blockchain is another valued technology in the country. Despite the country’s ban on initial coin offerings (ICOs) in 2017 and the government’s aversion to cryptocurrencies, Chinese President Xi Jinping has pushed for blockchain development in other areas. This has led to some strange applications of the technology, like tracking loyalty pledges to the Communist Party.

Other newly recognized professions include 3D printing operators and nucleic acid examiners. The latter is in response to China’s growing demand for examiners as the country prepares to prevent the coronavirus from rebounding, according to the Global Times.

China’s online censors are also getting recognition now. The official job title of “internet information checker” was added as a new type of job under “network and information security managers,” which was first recognized in 2015.

The Ministry of Human Resources says recognizing new professions helps the government better regulate the job market and help provide guidance on policies to promote industry development. It also helps boost education and training, according to the ministry.

After a four-year gap in recognizing new jobs, the ministry put out a new report in April last year. Esports players, drone pilots and AI engineers were among 13 new jobs added to China’s nearly 19,000 officially recognized professions. In February this year, it released another list of new professions that recognized virtual reality engineers and on-demand delivery personnel like food-delivery drivers.

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