National Human Resource Development in Transitioning Societies in the Developing World: The People's Republic of China

The problem and the solution. China has an excess of unskilled and semiskilled workers but a serious shortage of professionals and managers. Problematic education and training facilities are the main causes. Although higher education, which was interrupted throughout China during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), has been substantially expanded since 1978, it cannot keep pace with rapid economic development. As a result, China must reconsider the problems in developing its human resources and find innovative ways to solve them. This article reviews the historical and transitioning contexts of China with an eye on the evolving role of human resource development. Driving forces in the HRD environment are examined along with their potential impacts. Strategies for increasing the contribution of human resource development to economic, social, cultural, and political growth in China are suggested that are believed to have the potential to spark synergy between China's booming economy and its need for human resource development.