The first national platform dedicated to cultivating high-skilled talent in the bath leisure and health management sector has officially launched in Shenyang, Liaoning province, marking a significant step in the city's efforts to maintain its position as the "Bath Leisure Capital of China".

On Sept 4, the Shenyang Municipal Commerce Bureau, the Shenyang Bath Industry Association and Shenyang Polytechnic College held a ceremony to sign a strategic cooperation agreement for talent cultivation in the bath industry and to inaugurate the School of Bath Leisure and Health Management Industry.

The school will leverage the educational resources of Shenyang Polytechnic College to provide talent cultivation, skills training, research innovation and industry services. It aims to supply high-quality, professional and versatile personnel to the bath industry in Shenyang and across the country.

"In recent years, Shenyang's bath industry has flourished, with complete upstream and downstream industrial chains under the impetus of a series of favorable policies," said Zhu Ling, director of the commerce bureau, at the ceremony. "So far, Shenyang has 1,354 bathing businesses, with 49 enterprises over 5,000 square meters and the largest bathing enterprise covering an area of 100,000 square meters."

However, Zhu said the shortage of professional and younger talent has become a growing problem. She described the cooperation agreement and the school's opening as a crucial step in building a "solid bridge connecting the education chain and the employment chain".

"We will jointly explore new talent cultivation models such as order-based training and work-study alternation, which not only precisely meet the employment needs of enterprises for more high0quality, professional talent, but also further assist the industry in moving toward standardization, normalization and branding, further enhancing Shenyang's brand influence as the 'Bath Leisure Capital,'" she said.

Since 2023, Shenyang's tourism market has boomed, with many visitors enjoying the city's bath culture, said Tang Lizhong, executive president of the Shenyang Bath Industry Association.

The association was established on Aug 27, 2024, with one of its goals being to improve service capacity. Tang said solving the talent shortage is central to that aim. On Dec 30, Shenyang was awarded the title "Bath Leisure Capital of China" by the Asia International Bath SPA and Wellness Alliance.

Against this backdrop, the association and Shenyang Polytechnic College proposed establishing the industrial school.

"The school has two enrollment programs," Tang said. "One is open to out-of-school individuals aged 18 and above who want to learn specific skills in a short time, including foot massage, ear picking, scraping, cupping and traditional Chinese medicine therapy. After completing the training and passing the assessment, trainees can quickly find job opportunities."

The other program targets students who have completed high school or vocational school, focusing on management of the bath leisure and health industry. The three-year program includes two years of theoretical study at the school and a year-long internship at enterprises. Graduates can obtain a junior college degree.

The school will also implement a "dual-teacher system", in which school teachers and industry experts jointly compile textbooks and teach classes.

Tang expressed optimism about graduates' job prospects.

In terms of income, Tang said grassroots employees earn about 4,000 to 5,000 yuan ($562 to $702) per month, managers can make around 10,000 yuan or more, and store managers could obtain annual salaries of more than 400,000 yuan. The school will focus on cultivating management-level talent.

Although some are concerned that the industry may lack appeal to younger people, Tang said the key lies in guidance and raising awareness.

"The association is striving to promote social respect and recognition for these occupations," he said. "At the same time, the industry itself is constantly evolving, giving rise to more integrated venues that combine leisure, entertainment and accommodation, which better meet the consumption habits of contemporary people."