Table 2 Themes and sub-themes

Bureaucratic repression

Unreasonable policy plans

Harsh assessment

Excessive paperwork

Different preferences of government leaders

Obstacles caused by COVID-19 control

Profitability crisis in the market

High service cost

Dampened effective demand

Government intervention in setting price

Parent companies’ excessively high sales targets

Client-related challenges

Crisis of confidence

Dilemma of popularizing new technology

Communication barriers

Career dissatisfaction

Low and unstable wages

Heavy tasks

Poor social acceptance of occupations

Lack of professional value