China's push to become a global financial powerhouse is fueling a sharp rise in demand for hybrid talent with both financial expertise and emerging skill sets, with the talent gap particularly evident in technology, digital finance and carbon goals modalities, a senior CFA Institute executive said.

"We believe the financial industry will play an important role in supporting the innovative and sustainable development of the real economy," said Paul Moody, managing director of global partnerships and client solutions at CFA Institute, an association of investment professionals.

Moody said in an exclusive interview with China Daily that demand for professional talent development and skill upgrading will continue to intensify, with demand in China for "T-shaped" talent — professionals with solid financial knowledge and skills aligned with emerging trends — rising rapidly.

Talent shortages are particularly significant in financing green, tech and digital sectors, he said, as the push toward dual-carbon goals and ESG investing — incorporating environmental, social and governance factors into investment decisions — has further amplified demand for specialized skills.

A case in point is the market reception for CFA Institute's simplified Chinese certificate in sustainable investing, launched on July 29, 2025, Moody said.

The certificate marks CFA Institute's first non-English learning product, underscoring its long-term commitment to the Chinese market.

Since its launch, the program has attracted more than 500 registrations globally, with over 70 percent from China, and more than 80 percent of candidates are employed professionals. As of January of this year, the pass rate stood at 66 percent.

"This indicates the strong demand among industry practitioners to enhance their ESG investment knowledge and skills," Moody said, adding that the CFA Institute plans to expand language localization into other markets, including Spanish, Arabic and French, to promote the global dissemination of sustainable finance knowledge.

The rising demand for hybrid financial talent also reflects regulators' push to build a strong, professional and internationally competitive talent pool.

A meeting held by the Ministry of Education and the National Financial Regulatory Administration last month said that further international cooperation is needed to develop new models of financial talent development, which lies at the core of the country's broader goal of becoming a financial powerhouse.

Moody said the country's evolving financial market is creating substantial opportunities for both domestic and international talent, with a highly skilled and globally oriented workforce remaining key to the sector's competitiveness and high-quality development.

On financial opening-up, Moody said China's efforts to build a more transparent and predictable institutional framework are helping reduce cross-border investment risks and strengthen confidence among global investors and professionals.

He added that internationally recognized qualifications such as the CFA Program are increasingly valued in China. Since the CFA Program was launched in China in 2002, participation has grown significantly, with over 9,000 CFA charter holders and an increased number of candidates each year.

The CFA Program has been included in Beijing's 2025 directory of internationally recognized professional qualifications and is officially regarded as equivalent to a semi-senior professional title, allowing charter holders in Beijing to be granted this title upon direct application.