In Datong Hui and Tu Autonomous County in Xining, Qinghai Province, 44-year-old Lin Yonghong farmed the land for half his life before switching careers last year to become a caregiver. 'After my first five-day assignment, the patient was very satisfied with my care. With skills in hand, I feel more confident and my income is more stable,' Lin said.
Lin's transition from the fields to a caregiver post is a microcosm of the county's growing caregiver industry.
As a traditional agricultural county, over 60% of Datong's permanent population lives in rural areas and residents generally face limited employment channels and income opportunities. 'In recent years, demand for care of the elderly, children and patients has grown sharply, leaving a large gap in the caregiver workforce that professional services cannot meet,' said Dai Guocang, head of the county's employment service bureau. Building on early private exploration, local authorities decided to develop the caregiver sector under a branding strategy, creating the distinctive 'Datong Caregiver' labor brand.
In June 2024, 'Datong Caregiver' was recognized as the third batch of Xining's 'Ning-brand' labor brands. To promote standardized development, in 2025 Datong established the Datong Caregiver Industry Base Operating Co., Ltd. as the brand's operating entity.
What does the base teach? Medical caregivers, maternal and infant care workers, elderly-care workers, household-management managers tailored theory and hands-on courses are designed for each role.
To remove workers' worries, Datong introduced a 'five covers, six free' policy: it covers meals, housing, transport, training and employment, and waives fees for uniforms, medical checkups, insurance, tuition and materials, and certification. 'The government bears the costs. As long as you are willing to work, we provide free, full-process support to get you on the job,' said Liu Yaqiong, deputy general manager of the operating company.
'The hands-on work is fine, but the theory classes are a bit challenging,' Lin said. 'The teacher lectures by day, and at night we review our notes and quiz each other, and gradually it sticks.' Training lasts 7 to 21 days, and the certification rate after base training exceeds 90%. 'We train on demand, and it's common for orders to come in while trainees are still in class,' Liu said.
Datong has also built a full-chain service system for the caregiver industry. 'The base has signed hosting agreements with 22 hospitals in the province to ensure trainees have posts after training. New trainees must complete a 3-to-5-day mentor-led apprenticeship before going solo,' Liu explained. To solve transitional housing between assignments, the base has opened 'caregiver stations' offering free temporary lodging in Xining's urban districts, Datong County and Delingha.
In addition, the base developed a mini-program to build personal profiles and credit ratings for caregivers. Clients can view a caregiver's years of experience, number of assignments and employer reviews. 'As the rating rises, so does the income,' Liu said.
Wu Yongping, 47, earned both elderly-care and medical-care certificates at the base. 'I make six to seven thousand yuan a month and always have orders,' she said. 'In the future I want to get a household-manager certificate and become an instructor myself!'
To date, the 'Datong Caregiver' brand has created 14,000 jobs, accounting for over 60% of Qinghai's caregiver market, and is gradually expanding beyond the province. Datong plans to employ more than 30,000 caregivers by 2027, with per-capita annual income above 50,000 yuan.
