China needs to provide its blue collar workers adequate opportunities to reach the middle class, in order to transform the pyramid society into an olive-shaped one, said Li Yining, a prestigious economist in China, yesterday.

Li made his remark at the Guanghua New Year Forum at Peking University, in which he introduced his dual labor market theory.

According to Li, the labor market in China has been split into superior and inferior sectors, from which the workers in the bottom class, who repeat simple dull jobs day after day with meager incomes, see no hope.

"Employees with a high-quality jobs can easily become a member of the middle class, while blue collar workers in the inferior job market can rarely do so," said Li.

He suggested providing the blue-collar workers in the inferior market with enough training and adequate learning opportunities to help them remove barriers in their careers.

With systematic education, training and improved working conditions, manual workers equipped with advanced skills would be able to establish their own business to provide parts and maintenance service for big companies, Li said.

The veteran economist also blamed a lack of education for impeding the career advancement of manual workers and farmers. According to him, education, which plays a key role in upgrading the work force, should be improved.

Besides, he also advised setting certain criteria for different careers. "The flow of talent should be based on rules, competition and personal diligence rather than family backgrounds," he said.

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