Study on public attention to vocational training in Mainland China based on Baidu index during the COVID-19 pandemic

The outbreak of COVID-19 has profoundly impacted various sectors globally, including vocational training. Baidu, being the most widely used search engine in China, offers Baidu Index, one of the most critical statistical analysis platforms in the era of big data. This study utilizes Baidu Index to analyze the changes and differences in public attention to vocational training during and after the pandemic,providing insights and data support for future employment pressure solutions. The study uses Baidu Index to collect data on the keyword “vocational training” from December 1, 2019, to December 1, 2023. Attention trends are analyzed from three aspects: trend research, demand mapping, and demographic profiling. Additionally, attention differences among agricultural training, technical training, service training, and vocational training are compared. Through this study, we hope to identify how public attention to vocational training is influenced by factors such as time, space, and policies, to further promote the integration of vocational training with local industrial development, providing ideas and data support for solving employment pressure in the future. 1. During the pandemic, public interest shifted to online training due to isolation measures. However, the lack of specificity led to a doubling of searches for vocational training post-pandemic. 2. The search index for vocational training is closely related to the introduction and implementation of relevant policies. Men are more inclined to seek information about vocational training. 3. Guangdong, with the highest GDP and employment population, ranks first among provinces in attention to vocational training. Beijing, a hub for information transmission, software, and IT services, ranks first among cities. 4. Public interest is more focused on skill enhancement training, as evidenced by related keywords.