Reflections on career development of WorldSkills Competition winners in the context of skills-based society: An analysis of awardees from four provinces and cities in the Yangtze River Delta

In the context of the construction of a skills-based society, this study statistically analyzes the career conditions of winners from the 41st-46th WorldSkills Competitions across four provinces and cities in the Yangtze River Delta. The main career characteristics identified include relatively stable employment, preference for teaching positions as their first choice of profession, focus on skill training in their work content, and increasing flexibility in employment opportunities over recent years. The construction of a skills-based society has set new requirements for WorldSkills winners: to refine their own skills, enhance skill standards, improve the skills environment, and expand international influence. In their career development, winners face major challenges in terms of three aspects: professional skills, career vision, and career paths. In response to these requirements and challenges, this paper proposes specific reform suggestions, including improving policy content, establishing learning and training platforms, optimizing the internal and external practical environment, and designing a comprehensive career development path for these winners.