Support enhanced for veteran vocational training

China will make employment demand the main driver of vocational training for veterans during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), aligning courses more closely with labor market changes and the needs of emerging industries, officials from the Ministry of Veterans Affairs said at a State Council Information Office news conference on Friday.

Training programs will be expanded in areas including artificial intelligence, drone operations, advanced manufacturing and modern services, while local authorities will regularly update course catalogs based on regional industries and occupations facing labor shortages, according to the ministry.

Since the ministry was established, 1.22 million veterans have received vocational skills training and more than 1.64 million have participated in programs designed to help them adapt to civilian life, according to the ministry.

During the next five-year period, greater emphasis will be placed on making training practical and employment-oriented. Short-cycle programs in livestreaming e-commerce, automobile maintenance and community services will be offered through an order-based model, allowing courses to be designed around employers' recruitment needs and helping veterans enter jobs more quickly.

Training methods will also become more flexible. As many veterans now live and work outside their home provinces, the ministry will gradually expand access to cross-provincial training so they can attend courses closer to where they live.

Cooperation among governments, vocational schools and businesses will be strengthened, with companies taking part in curriculum design and providing workshops for practical instruction. Customized courses and immersive workplace training will help participants acquire skills that can be directly applied on the job, according to the ministry.

Minister of Veterans Affairs Pei Jinjia said the ministry will continue to regard the placement and employment of veterans as a priority, improve placement mechanisms and employment support, and encourage veterans to start businesses in their hometowns and rural areas.

Career planning and policy guidance will be provided both before and after service members leave the military. Internships and workplace experience programs will also be organized according to local conditions to help them adapt more smoothly from military service to civilian jobs, he said.

The ministry will improve the matching of veterans with employers through methods including points-based job selection, unified examinations, direct placement and two-way selection. The aim is to help receiving organizations find people with the skills they need while enabling veterans to secure suitable positions.

Vice-Minister of Veterans Affairs Sui Hongbo said the ministry will deepen cooperation with emergency management, public security and education authorities to guide more veterans into jobs such as teachers, auxiliary police officers and firefighters.

It will also expand partnerships with central State-owned enterprises and competitive private companies and organize regular recruitment events specifically for veterans. Regional cooperation will be encouraged in areas including Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and the Yangtze and Pan-Pearl river deltas to help veterans search for jobs across a wider market.

More positions will be developed in industries linked to new quality productive forces, including the low-altitude economy, new energy vehicles and high-end equipment manufacturing. Veterans will also be encouraged to work in software development, e-commerce, healthcare and elderly care services, Sui said.

For those facing employment difficulties, authorities will establish individual records and provide tailored assistance, including public service jobs when necessary. Support for veteran-founded businesses will also be strengthened to help them grow and create jobs for other former service members, he said.

The ministry will also improve services and benefits for veterans and other eligible recipients during the next five-year period, protecting their lawful rights and enhancing the quality of support.

Wang Zhongcheng, director of the ministry's department of support for veterans and military families, said policies and benefit systems will be improved and implemented more precisely.

Wang said that a dynamic adjustment mechanism will be strengthened to steadily raise pension and subsidy standards. China has increased regular pension and living allowances for eligible recipients for 21 consecutive years, helping safeguard their basic living needs.