Mastering skills

Liu Ping, 43, is delighted to have completed a training program for mother-and-child care and to have received an "Excellent Trainee" award from a home services company in Beijing.

Liu closed her clothing store three years ago due to poor business. Believing that home services held the most promising prospects, she switched careers and entered the industry.

"Every household has elderly members and children, and people are busy with work and have little time to take care of them. Therefore, the demand for elderly care and childcare is always there," she said.

Initially, Liu provided what she called "not-so-professional" home services to two households, such as preparing complementary foods for infants, offering early childhood education, and doing some simple chores. However, she soon realized she needed to enhance her knowledge and skills to better meet customers' expectations.

"Parents now have stricter requirements for childcare. During job interviews, employers look at how many qualifications and certificates you have, what skills you possess, how much experience you have, whether you can drive, speak English, and so on," she said.

Recognizing the gap between her abilities and customer expectations, Liu decided to take professional training courses, which she believes will be beneficial for future job opportunities and earning customer trust. She enrolled in a training program offered by a large home services company and embarked on a one-month intensive course that included theoretical lessons and practical exercises.

"The courses I registered for included postpartum recovery, pediatric massage, lactation stimulation, as well as infant care, all taught by experienced professionals in maternal and child care. The overall training lasted about a month," Liu said.

What left the deepest impression on Liu was a lesson on infant care, where the teacher demonstrated multiple safe and comfortable ways to hold a baby. "In the past, we used to hold babies in just one position, but now I've learned that there are multiple positions that are comfortable and safe for the baby."

To complete the training program, Liu and her peers had to pass a practical exam. "The exam is very rigorous and detailed. For example, in the postpartum rehabilitation exam, we needed to describe the procedures for head care, waist care, uterine care, ovarian care, and identify the acupressure points when massaging the mothers," she recalled.

Armed with more professional skills, Liu now feels confident in her career prospects: "With my growing experience and improved skills, earning over 10,000 yuan per month is achievable."

Liu's story is an example of the trend of home services workers becoming more professional through training. Data from 58 Daojia shows that in 2024, the number of home services personnel participating in training programs increased by 196 percent compared to the previous year. Home services companies are providing standardized and specialized training, while also developing new courses such as child development companions, medical companions, and elite housekeepers.

Training and employment are closely connected. After passing assessments and obtaining certificates, workers can more efficiently match with employers and receive orders on online platforms. Some even begin their in-home services the day after they complete training.

More than 70 percent of trainees see an increase in salary after training, with a salary boost of up to 41 percent for employees in second-tier cities and below, according to the report.