BEIJING: With the rapid development of digital technologies and the broadening of labor categories, China has seen the emergence of a large number of fresh professions in recent years.
Various new occupations have enriched employment options. A national classification of occupations released in 2022 showed that there were 1,639 identified occupations in China, 158 more than in 2015, and 6 percent of which were related to digital technology.
Chinese youth are ambitiously tapping into these emerging professions, ranging from AI architect and machine learning engineer to homestay housekeeper and pet nurse, especially given the intense competition in the job market.
With cursor flashing and lines of code typed in, skyscrapers and picturesque landscapes seen in reality are represented on the screen of a virtual architect surnamed Wang.
Virtual architect, a profession using AI algorithms to build a world in virtual space, is a new occupation often linked to the games industry. It is dedicated to providing immersive experiences for gamers, moviegoers and virtual reality users.
Wang, who majored in gaming and entertainment art as an undergraduate, is a newcomer in this field, but is very confident about the prospects of his job. “This technology has vast potential, and I can use it to represent the whole world.”
Virtual architects can also construct various scenarios online in catering to customer demands, such as 3D meeting rooms, online press conferences, online exhibitions and virtual museums.
Wang said he hopes more people will join him in transforming the imagination of the virtual world into productive forces in reality. Like virtual architect, other new occupations exploiting digital technologies are gaining increasing popularity, especially among young job hunters, due to the flexibility and promising prospects. –Agencies
