A recent provincial government commendation has put the spotlight on Liu Enlai, a teacher at Jiangsu Yangzhou Technician College, recognized for his outstanding performance in the 8th Jiangsu Skills Competition. This accolade serves as the latest testament to Yangzhou's ongoing efforts to strengthen its 'Yangjiajiang' skilled worker brand.

Latest figures reveal that the city's total skilled workforce has reached 950,000, with high-skilled talent accounting for 324,500 individuals, or 34.2% of that number. From January to July this year, the city has cultivated 26,000 skilled workers, including 7,147 high-skilled professionals. By the end of the 15th Five-Year Plan period, Yangzhou aims to boost the proportion of high-skilled talent to 40%, targeting 1,250 high-skilled workers per 10,000 laborers.

Legal Framework Empowers High-Skilled Talent Development

Yangzhou stands as the first city in China to enact legislation specifically for high-skilled talent. In July 2025, the city transformed its strategic decisions and successful practices regarding high-skilled talent into local regulations, establishing the 'Yangzhou High-Skilled Talent Development Promotion Regulations'. This provides a robust legal foundation for building the skilled workforce.

With regulatory backing, financial incentives have become more substantial. In 2026, Yangzhou announced its municipal-level high-skilled talent project list, allocating concrete funding: 5 specialized public training bases (each receiving 200,000 yuan in subsidies), 10 Master Skills Studios (each with 20,000 yuan support), and 10 Enterprise Chief Technicians (each receiving 10,000 yuan).

The 15-Minute Learning Circle Brightens Evening Life

Daytime jobs, evening skill-building. In September 2025, Yangzhou pioneered the 'Skills Night School' across the province. Course offerings include artificial intelligence, short video editing, domestic services, and the renowned 'Three Knives' trades, creating a convenient '15-minute skills learning circle'.

A post-90s entrepreneur, Mr. Liu, attended a hands-on session on AI semi-automated annotation tools. 'After learning this, my annotation efficiency tripled, saving at least 200,000 yuan in annual labor costs. It's more practical than industry courses costing tens of thousands,' he noted. In the first seven months of this year, the city has delivered 208 public welfare classes, serving over 6,500 citizens, with AI-related courses making up more than 40% of the curriculum.

Deep Industry-Education Integration Aligns Specialties with Industry Chains

Closely tied to the '613' industry system, Yangzhou has pushed technical colleges to achieve over 80% alignment between their programs and the region's dominant industries. In 2026, more than 10 new specialties have been added, including intelligent equipment operation and maintenance, and drone application technology.

In May this year, Jiangsu Oilfield Technician College partnered with Radiant Opto-Electronics to launch an 'order-based class', ensuring students 'enroll to employment, graduate to work'. From January to July, the city conducted vocational training for nearly 40,000 people, with digital-related courses accounting for almost 85%.

In skills competitions, Yangzhou contestants shine brightly. At the 8th Jiangsu Skills Competition, they secured 2 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze medals. Recently, the Chinese delegation for the 48th WorldSkills Competition was formed, with Tang Jingchuan, a staff member from Jiangsu Yangzhou Technician College, selected to represent China in the Renewable Energy category.

Embracing AI to Cultivate More Digital 'Yangjiajiang'

This year, Yangzhou launched its first 'Summer Skills Training Program for University Students', offering a full-chain service of 'skills training, evaluation, and employment support'. Digital skills courses account for half of the 60 practical courses, attracting thousands of students. Looking ahead, the city plans to roll out comprehensive AI training for all, targeting at least 600,000 person-times of AI training and 1,500 offline sessions by 2028. Through four types of general education and eight industry-specific training programs, Yangzhou will implement tiered AI instruction, building a comprehensive AI training system spanning the entire region and all sectors, laying a solid 'digital foundation' for its ambition to become a leading industrial and tech innovation city.