China has unveiled a national plan to reform its vocational education system to better prepare its workforce for a more market-oriented economy.

The plan, published Wednesday, would build 50 “high-quality, high-level” vocational schools and 300 training centers to produce a labor force for multiple industries that will gradually be less government-oriented and more market-driven, the plan said.

The vocational schools and some higher-education institutions should also begin offering ratings for specific skills instead of simply granting general degrees.

The plan encourages schools to learn from peers in Germany, Japan, and Switzerland — countries with mature and highly-practical vocational training for both heavy and light industries.

The plan is seen as a part of Beijing’s strategy to remedy the country’s shortage of skilled labor, particularly in advanced manufacturing. The reforms could also bring younger workers into fields traditionally made up of largely older workforces.

Related: Editorial: China Must Nip Structural Unemployment in Bud

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