Jewelry appraisers, sign language interpreters and disabled children caregivers have become new occupations in China as classified by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.

 

About 2,000 occupations have been confirmed by the ministry in China up until now, including eight batches of eighty-six new occupations publicized since 2004. The ministry releases new occupation lists three to four times a year.

 

New occupations, including pet health caregivers, professional pet trainers, coffee baristas and gold investment consultants, have made people's lives more convenient and changed the way of living of many citizens.

 

National occupation standards have been established for 60 percent of the 86 occupations since 2004. In 2006 alone, 37 national standards were established to regulate the new occupations' development.

 

Regarding the fast change in occupation categories, certain outdated occupations have already disappeared in modern life, such as vessel repairers and vinyl record production workers.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 18, 2007)