It’s best to use government subsidies for training — don’t jump straight to paying for commercial courses out of pocket
Grade AMedium benefitMoneyFreeSome timeSome willpower
From 2025 through late 2027, the government plans to provide subsidized training to over 30 million participants. Funding comes from multiple sources, including employment assistance funds, unemployment insurance funds, and corporate education budgets. The more in-demand a profession is and the higher the training cost, the larger the subsidy. Employees should ask their employers first; everyone else should review their local Human Resources and Social Security Bureau’s subsidy list before deciding what to study.
- Cost
- Zero cost, or at least a substantial reduction. Training does require time. The real challenge is resisting the urge to sign up for paid courses right away; first, check the local subsidy list.
- Benefit
- The national target is clear: over 30 million subsidized training slots for high-tech industries, critical sectors, and priority employment groups between 2025 and 2027. Funding is pooled from various programs — employment assistance funds, unemployment insurance, sector development grants, East-West cooperation funds, and corporate education budgets. Subsidy amounts depend on how urgently a profession is needed and its training cost; they vary by occupation. Companies must also allocate at least 60% of their employee education funds to frontline staff training.
- Notes
- Exact eligibility criteria and subsidy amounts are set by each province. The main portals are the “Subsidized Vocational Training List” on the local Human Resources and Social Security Bureau website and public training centers. Section 7 covers unemployment-related training subsidies (up to three applications per person) and social insurance benefits. Employees should first inquire about their employer’s education fund allocation before making any decisions. Checking the subsidy list first saves far more money than choosing a course first and then searching for financial aid.
Sources · 1
- 国务院就业促进和劳动保护工作领导小组 (2025). 关于开展大规模职业技能提升培训行动的指导意见. gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202507/content_70322…