The following PRC government report analyzes the AI industry in China and concludes that demand for AI professionals continues to exceed supply. The U.S. job market continues to attract the majority of highly qualified Chinese AI researchers, the report finds.

The Chinese source text is available online at: https://web.archive.org/web/20200730182548/http://www.mohrss.gov.cn/SYrlzyhshbzb/dongtaixinwen/buneiyaowen/202004/t20200430_367110.html

US $1 ≈ 7 Chinese Yuan Renminbi (RMB), as of September 3, 2020.

I. Background

Artificial intelligence (AI) has taken on strategic national importance and is driving the innovation of China’s supply-side reforms. As stated in the 19th Party Congress Report, “we must accelerate the construction of China into a manufacturing superpower (制造强国), promote the development of advanced manufacturing, and fully integrate the internet, big data, and AI into the real economy.” AI has been included in the government work report for the past three years. Accelerating the in-depth application of AI, cultivating and expanding the AI industry and talent pool, meeting the new global demand for talented AI workers driven by this scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, and supporting national strategies—such as the strategy of rejuvenating the nation through science and education, the innovation-driven [development] strategy, and the strategy of building China into a talent superpower (人才强国)—are providing key support for Chinese economic development.

Over the past three years, the State Council, National Development and Reform Commission, and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology have released strategic directives on numerous occasions, such as the New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan¹ and the Three-Year Action Plan for Promoting the Development of a New Generation Artificial Intelligence Industry (2018–2020),² which all promote the development of artificial intelligence. The Three-Year Action Plan states that one of the five safeguards is accelerating professional training; in other words, “attract and train high-end AI talent as well as innovative, entrepreneurial talent, support the growth of a group of leading talent and top young talent, support the creation of better science majors related to AI, and guide and train the skilled personnel that are urgently needed for the industry to grow.”

As this timeline shows, the Chinese government is prioritizing the development of AI in a big way and is making the industrialization and integrated application of new-generation AI technologies key areas of development. At the same time, it is also emphasizing the importance of training skilled individuals in the field of AI.

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A New Occupation—An Analytical Report on Current Employment Prospects for AI Engineers and Technicians

1. For an English translation of this document, see: https://www.newamerica.org/cybersecurity-initiative/digichina/blog/full-translation-chinas-new-generation-artificial-intelligence-development-plan-2017/
2. For an English translation of this document, see: https://www.newamerica.org/cybersecurity-initiative/digichina/blog/translation-chinese-government-outlines-ai-ambitions-through-2020/