Does Vocational Education Benefit Manufacturing?—An Empirical Study Based on China Panel Data from 2009 to 2016

Abstract This study uses a theoretical model for vocational education to promote manufacturing growth by promoting human capital accumulation and employment and using panel data from 30 provinces and cities in China from 2009 to 2016 to test the model empirically. The results show that the development of vocational education cannot promote manufacturing growth. The average contribution rate of vocational education to economic growth is 0.465%, which is higher than its contribution to second industry (−0.226%). The research conclusion also shows that if the development of vocational education cannot meet the needs of economic growth, it will become a factor restricting economic growth.