Abstract: From the history of social division of labor, this paper analyzes the logical thread as for the deepening division of labor and career evolution, as well as the mechanism of new occupations promoting professional development and economic growth in the era of digital economy. It is shown that new occupations are the inevitable product of the deepening social division of labor. Throughout the history in human society, there are six great divisions. Under the background of each one, a variety of new careers emerged. The alternation of new and old careers witnessed the social development and also met people's pursuit of a better life. As the product of social division of labor, new occupations could promote the professional specialization from multiple dimensions, such as digital technology, products, talents and enterprises, and also initiate the cycle of “deepening division of labor→ new occupations→ professional development→ productivity improvement→ market expansion→ deepening division of labor”, playing the role of “perpetual motion machine”. In the time of digital economy, new occupations issued in China not only have vastly released the vitality of traditional industries, but also driven the vigorous development of emerging digital industries, which have become the new driving force and growth point of China's economic speed increase and quality improvement.

Key words: social division, new occupations, digital economy, professional specialization, economic growth