Marketplace All-in-One This school trains the workforce behind China's automated factories
Nov 19, 2025
Jennifer Pak, the Marketplace China correspondent, explores a cutting-edge robotics upskilling school in Nanjing. She reveals how the school trains students to program robotic arms, equipping them with vital skills as China pushes for advanced manufacturing. The conversation dives into the growing reluctance of youth to pursue traditional factory jobs, while demand for automation engineers soars. With over 95% job placement rates, this school is addressing the workforce shortage amidst China's economic slowdown, bridging the gap between education and industry needs.
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China Prioritizes Automation In Manufacturing
- China is pushing manufacturing upgrades toward automation as labor pools shrink and technology becomes central.
- The five-year plan emphasizes automation to modernize factories and boost manufacturing strength.
Hands-On Robot Training At Zinananche
- Zinananche training center gives students hands-on experience programming industrial robot arms to trace shapes.
- The school teaches skills to calibrate, operate, and repair production-line automation systems.
Train Engineers To Build And Maintain Lines
- Train automation engineers to design and maintain production lines, not just operate them.
- Provide calibration and repair training so production lines function reliably at factories like Foxconn.