This article presents 4 stages in the development of career guidance and counseling in education settings in Shanghai, People's Republic of China, from 1977 (after the Cultural Revolution) to 2015, with an economic–political perspective. In the 1st stage (1977–1992), job allocation was implemented by the government as a mandatory regulation to meet the pressing demands for trained professionals in various industries. In the 2nd stage (1993–1999), job allocation was replaced by vocational guidance as a service. In the 3rd stage (2000–2011), there was a growth in career education, mainly in colleges. The 4th stage (2012–2015) witnessed the boom of career counseling with the focus transferring to secondary schools. This article ends with a discussion of the future model of career guidance and counseling in Shanghai.