Electrician contestants battle it out during Taiyuan city's first vocational skills competition. [Photo/Shanxi Daily] 

Taiyuan city's first vocational skills competition opened in the provincial capital of North China's Shanxi province on Aug 17. 

Sponsored by the Taiyuan bureau of human resources and social security and the talent office of the Taiyuan Municipal Party Committee, the ongoing competition is being held at the local Taiyuan Technician College – attracting 567 participants from 16 teams. 

Officials said the competition, which will run to Aug 19, consists of 16 contest programs in five categories. It is based on the city's transformation and development, industrial upgrading, employment and entrepreneurship needs. 

Contestants eagerly show off their work during Taiyuan city's first vocational skills competition. [Photo/Shanxi Daily]

Outstanding contestants will be awarded honorary titles such as "Bingzhou Skilled Technicians" and given professional qualifications promotions. 

In recent years, Taiyuan has prioritized upgrading the skills of its workforce and increased policy and financial support, to increase employment and people's incomes, with a large number of skilled technicians having been trained. 

Officials said that by taking the vocational skills competition as a springboard, the city will further train up knowledge-based, skilled and innovative workers, so as to support its socioeconomic development.