The Ministry of Labor and Social Security predicted that China will need up to 300,000 shoe designers over the next 10 years.
Shoes are one of the country's major export products. The Pearl River Valley and the Yangtze River Valley are the country's major shoe production bases.
Shoe producers are investing heavily to meet overseas demand and qualified shoe designers are in short supply.
As China's living standards improve, domestic demand for better, more stylish shoes is also on the rise, creating greater demand for shoe designers, according to the Ministry.
Shoe designers are on a list of newly-emerging occupations, recently released the ministry.
Shoe designers are required to mainly design shoes with the help of computer software. They also analyze fashion trends, introduce new technology and conduct market research.
