Chongqing - With China's 2025 national college entrance exam now over, more than 13 million students face a pivotal choice: selecting a major that could shape their future.

Tan Kaizhong, right, prepares lunch for the elderly. (Photo/Tan Xinyu)

For 26-year-old Zhou Dan, now head nurse at the Huangjueping Elderly Care Service Center under Everbright Senior Healthcare·Bailingbang, a career in eldercare began by chance—she entered the field after missing out on her first-choice major and being placed in Chongqing City Management College's Elderly Service and Management program.

"At first, my family was strongly opposed," Zhou recalled. "When they found out I'd been admitted to an eldercare program, my father said the field had no future—just basic caregiving for seniors, leading nowhere beyond a welfare home."

"Exhausting work" and "no future"—those were once common stereotypes attached to jobs in eldercare. But Zhou, who has remained in the industry from her internship through to graduation, sees a very different picture. With China's population aging rapidly, she believed the sector now offers good prospects for long-term growth.

Zhou has moved up from an entry-level caregiver role to a management position in the nursing department, where she oversees staff training, employee management, and communication with residents' families. She said perceptions of her job—especially within her own family—have shifted notably. "Now, everyone sees eldercare as a sunrise industry. Some sectors may downsize or struggle to pay wages. At least in this field, there's stability. My family now feels I made the right choice," she said.

Zhang Shuhua, head of the Huangjueping Elderly Care Service Center, has also observed some shift in attitudes toward the eldercare profession. "Public understanding of this line of work has improved," she said. "As employment landscapes evolve, eldercare has emerged as a relatively stable sector, offering consistent job opportunities and dependable income."

This shift, she noted, has made the industry more appealing to younger job seekers. At her center, nearly 30% of the staff are under the age of 35—a marked change from just over half a year ago.

"In the past, even in facilities with over a hundred residents, you might see only one young nursing supervisor or nurse," Zhang said. "The rest of the frontline caregivers were often older—men and women in their fifties or sixties. The age gap between staff members was significant, especially among those providing direct care."

While the industry's appeal has grown, challenges on the front lines persist. Zhang's center has around 80% of the elderly residents requiring assistance with daily activities."Caregiving is still demanding work," Zhang said. "It involves tasks that many find uncomfortable, such as assisting with toileting and hygiene. The workload is often heavy and detailed. And care doesn't stop with the elderly—staff are also expected to manage communication with multiple family members, which can be equally complex and time-consuming."

She admitted that while progress has been made, public recognition of caregiving as a skilled and valuable profession still has room to grow.

Long Surong provided bathing assistance to an elderly resident at one of the Chongqing Sunshine Eldercare Service stations in Chongqing. (Photo/Tan Xinyu)

Long Surong, a caregiver in her forties working for Chongqing Sunshine Eldercare Service, believed that not everyone is suited for the job of caring for the elderly. "Some young people can't handle it—they're afraid of the dirt, the smell, the physical strain. They also lack the patience and attention to detail this work requires. It’s a profession that demands a combination of qualities," she said.

She noted that while some newcomers may think they are mentally prepared to work with the elderly, they are often unprepared for the reality. "The smell on some elderly people can be overwhelming—different kinds of odors. Some haven't bathed in months, rarely change their clothes, and their faces are often unclean. It can make people feel nauseous or even throw up."

Tan Kaizhong, a student majoring in smart elderly care services and management at Chongqing Wuyi Polytechnic, is set to graduate this year. He admitted that many young people today are reluctant to take on tough, hands-on roles and tend to prefer jobs that are less strenuous and more comfortable.

Young practitioners discover the rewards of eldercare

Tan has been interning for the past six months at the Huangjueping Elderly Care Service Center, where he has been working as a frontline caregiver. His responsibilities include assisting residents with meals—feeding those who are unable to eat on their own—helping them get in and out of bed, dressing, and supporting them with toileting and other daily needs.

"Before the internship, I thought eldercare was just about looking after older people's basic needs," he said. "But after doing the work myself, I realized it's much more than that. We not only take care of their physical health and daily routines—we also support their emotional well-being by organizing activities to keep them engaged."

What initially seemed like cold, repetitive work turned out to be a source of personal fulfillment. "At first, I thought caring for people would feel monotonous and emotionally distant," he said. "But once I got involved, I found it genuinely rewarding. Sometimes new staff struggle when residents get upset or lash out, but when I go in, I can hold their hand and walk with them calmly. That sense of connection means a lot."

Tan also noted how much he has grown during his internship. "I used to be extremely shy," he said. "But after learning to communicate with the residents and their families, I've become more confident. I'm more at ease speaking, and I don't get nervous when organizing activities anymore."

Looking ahead, Tan sees strong potential in the eldercare sector and plans to continue working in the field after graduation.

For Zhou, a seasoned professional who has worked in the industry for nearly four years, eldercare also carries deep personal meaning. "This job has real social value," she said. "I believe caring for the elderly is a way of building good karma. It's meaningful work."

She acknowledged that not everyone sees it that way. "Some people, including my own family at first, thought this job was just about helping seniors with basic needs like eating and toileting. They didn't think it was meaningful," she said. "But in reality, we're responsible for all aspects of a person's care. And when I see an elderly resident improve—when I see them happier or healthier—that's when I know exactly why this work matters."

Tan Kaizhong helps seniors walk around at the Huangjueping Elderly Care Service Center under Everbright Senior Healthcare·Bailingbang. (Photo/Tan Xinyu)

Reforms to draw young people into eldercare careers

In Zhang's view, the elderly often respond positively to younger caregivers. "When they see someone full of energy, it lifts their spirits," she said.

At the same time, younger employees help to bring innovation to the sector. New initiatives in areas like digital management require stronger educational backgrounds and fresh perspectives, Zhang admitted.

As China's population ages, new eldercare-related professions are also taking shape. Roles such as long-term care specialists, senior ability assessors, patient escorts, and bathing assistants have been created to meet the growing demand for diverse services.

Tu Qilei, Head of the School of Elderly Welfare at China Civil Affairs University, told China Youth Daily that since the State Council issued a guideline in 2013 to accelerate the development of eldercare services, a series of related national policies have followed over the past decade. In his view, both government support and the country's aging demographics point to significant future growth for the eldercare industry—offering young people increasing opportunities for employment and long-term career development in the field.

On the other hand, the eldercare sector is grappling with a large labor shortage. According to data cited by Chongqing Daily from local authorities, Chongqing is now home to over 8.01 million residents aged 60 and above, making up roughly a quarter of its permanent population. The demand for eldercare professionals has surged accordingly, with a shortfall of 15,000 skilled workers. The gap is even more pronounced among frontline caregivers, with 17,000 more needed to meet current demand. Many of those in the workforce were born in the 1940s and 1950s, and around 80% have limited educational backgrounds. The industry continues to face significant challenges in recruiting, employing, and retaining qualified staff.

In response, the city has recently launched China’s first publicly funded smart eldercare college program. The initiative offers free tuition, guaranteed employment, and clear career pathways for graduates.

Jointly developed by the Chongqing Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau and Chongqing City Management College, the program will welcome its first cohort of 100 students this fall.

Zhang's center is conducting a series of reforms to attract younger talent. "We're adjusting shift schedules, streamlining workflows, training, and clarifying promotion tracks—all to make this profession more accessible and appealing," she said.

As a longtime eldercare practitioner, Zhou said she’s satisfied with her current job's pay, hours, and advancement path. But she believes more can be done to attract young recruits. "Work hours should be shortened where possible," she said. "It can't be like the old days when we had to work 24-hour shifts or stay at the facility for an entire month. Young people need time for their own lives and to be with their families."

Wages and policy incentives also matter. "If there had been financial support during my internship, I might've felt more motivated," Zhou said. "Young people often feel overwhelmed at first. If we reduce their workload, shorten hours, and provide government subsidies, they're more likely to stay and grow in the industry."

According to Zhang, beyond routine training in practical skills and theory, young staff also receive instruction in management principles and leadership concepts. "This helps those with potential gradually develop a management mindset and prepare for leadership roles," she said. "In the eldercare sector, there’s a shortage of both skilled frontline workers and capable managers, so our training is designed to be comprehensive."

Zhang emphasized that residents are always at the heart of eldercare work. For young employees, "Once they're familiar with both caregiving and daily operations and show potential in leadership, they can move from caregiver to team leader, then to head nurse," she said. "From there, strong performers can advance to assistant director and eventually director. The promotion track is well established."

(Dai Xuelin, as an intern, also contributed to this report.)