The Challenges Faced by Skilled Talents under the Intelligent Transformation of Silver Economy in Zhongshan: Structural Mismatch and the Responsiveness of Vocational Education

Na Wei; Ling Peng; Qiuju Zhou; Haolan Fu

doi:10.70088/8d2mjs21

Authors

Na Wei Zhongshan Technician College, Zhongshan, China Author
Ling Peng Guangdong University of Science and Technology, Dongguan, China Author
Qiuju Zhou Zhongshan Technician College, Zhongshan, China Author
Haolan Fu Zhongshan Technician College, Zhongshan, China Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70088/8d2mjs21

Keywords:

artificial intelligence, silver economy, skilled talent, vocational education, elderly care, talent development

Abstract

The integration of artificial intelligence with the silver economy is driving the intelligent upgrading of elderly care services and creating new demands for versatile skilled professionals across the healthcare and wellness sectors. As the aging population accelerates, the convergence of digital technologies and eldercare has become a critical area of policy and academic inquiry. Using Zhongshan City in Guangdong Province as a representative case study, this paper systematically examines the talent supply-demand mismatch that has emerged under the intelligent transformation of the silver economy sector and proposes targeted strategies for technical and vocational education. Through a combination of field investigations, institutional data analysis, and stakeholder interviews, the research identifies three major challenges faced by local health and wellness professionals: first, persistent difficulties in recruitment, retention, and effective utilization of skilled workers; second, a quantified shortage of approximately 1,200 traditional nursing positions that remain unfilled; and third, a significant lack of local institutional capacity to cultivate talent for emerging roles in smart healthcare environments. To address these multifaceted challenges, this study recommends optimizing academic program structures, modernizing curricula to incorporate digital competencies, strengthening industry-education collaboration mechanisms, and aligning technical education outputs more closely with evolving industrial needs. The findings provide empirical insights and actionable policy recommendations for regional talent development strategies within the silver economy, contributing to the broader discourse on workforce adaptation in the era of intelligent technological transformation.

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