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.