Selection of skilled craftsmen in major countries will begin in 2026.

Recently, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions issued a notice to start the selection of talent for the 2026 National Master Craftsmen, planning to select 420 National Master Craftsmen nationwide. The selection aims to implement the "Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Deepening the Reform of Industrial Workers' Team Building," cultivate and train more National Master Craftsmen, and provide strong talent support for promoting China's modernization. According to the notice, the recommended candidates for National Master Craftsmen should highlight the positioning of the foundation, pillars, and key talents for the Chinese nation, and must be high-skilled talents who have long been working at the front line, fully possessing outstanding abilities such as leadership, achievement, innovation, focus, and inheritance. In terms of industry focus, this selection will focus on the key areas of the national "Fifteenth Five-Year Plan," targeting the development of new quality production forces, selecting outstanding candidates from the manufacturing industry undergoing digital transformation, the key traditional industries upgrading in quality, emerging industries, and future industries. In terms of enterprise categories, the selection will focus on national major projects and major projects, selecting from leading enterprises, top enterprises, and specialized and innovative "small giants".