China: 48th WorldSkills Competition highlights skilled trades as future of innovation.

Shanghai is hosting the 48th WorldSkills Competition, where young people from around the world are demonstrating that trade and vocational skills are not just about manual work, but about innovation, problem-solving, and a clear path to a future career. The competition runs from Tuesday to Sunday in Shanghai, with 1,385 competitors from 68 countries and regions vying in 64 skill events. Held every two years, the WorldSkills Competition is widely regarded as the world's leading vocational skills competition. The event features competitions ranging from welding and baking to robotics. China has more than 220 million skilled workers, including over 72 million highly skilled professionals. And as industries become smarter and more technologically advanced, that combination of knowledge and hands-on ability is becoming even more valuable. In China, vocational schools are a major source of new frontline workers in modern manufacturing and services. The challenge is to connect training more closely with real jobs, and give young people opportunities to keep learning as those jobs change. The old boundary between "engineer" and "technician" is becoming less clear. A first-class technician increasingly needs the mind of an engineer. They are about turning an idea on paper into something that actually works -- translating theory into practice, and design into a real product. Shotlist: Shanghai, China - Sept 22-25, 2026: 1. Sculpture reading "Worldskills Shanghai 2026"; 2. Various of competition in progress; 3. SOUNDBITE (English) Ir Cheng Ting-ning, Executive Director, Hong Kong Construction Industry Council (starting with shot 2/partially overlaid with shots 4-5): "For vocational training, we first need to establish in the Chinese mainland also in Hong Kong a skill level to be commensurate with those career positions. Second, we really need to have a position for the young guys to understand that they do not have any bachelor degree, but they have a vocational skill. After they got this kind of certification of professional skill and also gain experience, they can escalate step by step in the category they are, up to a very senior position." [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]; 4. Various of machine, robotic arms; 5. Various of competitors working [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]; 6. Various of competition in progress, visitors at venue, exhibits on display. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]