The seventh national population census data shows that the population of China aged 60 and above has reached 264 million. The acceleration of population aging poses a strong demand for professionals in elderly care services. Data shows that there is a shortage of tens of millions of elderly care personnel in China.
However, compared to the strong demand for talent, the enrollment of related majors appears somewhat deserted. "When the Elderly Care Service and Management major (now known as the Smart Health Elderly Care Service and Management major) was established in 2018, only 10 people were recruited," said Liu Hongbo, Vice Dean of Liuzhou City Vocational College, which is related to society's understanding of the elderly care service major.
Influenced by traditional Chinese beliefs, many people believe that elderly care services are like taking care of the elderly like nannies, taking care of their daily lives, and the working environment is poor and the technical level is not high.
"I didn't even understand my best friend when I chose this major, and there were people around me who mocked me. A boy actually studied this major," said Chen Qi, a student majoring in Intelligent Health and Elderly Care Services and Management at Liuzhou City Vocational College, born in 2002. "I think this is a sunrise industry with good employment prospects. After graduation, I want to work in this industry, and my future goal is to become the director of a nursing home."
