Youlife Group Inc. (NASDAQ: YOUL) forms cruise talent JV with Sealand

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Youlife Group Inc. reported that it has formed a strategic joint venture with Sealand Maritime Service Co., Ltd. to build a new talent ecosystem for high-end cruise tourism services. The parties have created Xiamen Youlife Sealand International Cultural Tourism Development Co., Ltd., which will focus on an integrated platform covering vocational training, certification, international placement, and long-term service support for cruise and cultural tourism professionals.

Youlife contributes its experience in blue-collar vocational education and workforce solutions in China, while Sealand brings its established role in recruiting, training, and dispatching cruise ship crews for more than ten global cruise operators, including Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, and Astro Ocean Cruises. The partnership is framed as a long-term strategic collaboration aimed at supporting growing global demand for skilled cruise service talent as international cruise operations resume and expand.

Insights

Equity analyst – strategic partnerships

Youlife expands into cruise and cultural tourism talent via a new joint venture with Sealand.

Youlife Group Inc. has entered a joint venture with Sealand Maritime Service Co., Ltd. to create Xiamen Youlife Sealand International Cultural Tourism Development Co., Ltd. The new entity is designed as an integrated platform spanning training, certification, and international placement for cruise and cultural tourism workers, aligning with Youlife’s focus on blue-collar vocational development.

Sealand contributes long-standing relationships with more than ten global cruise operators and official seafarer dispatch qualifications from Chinese authorities. The partnership targets the structural need for trained cruise service talent following the resumption of international cruise operations in China and the commercialization of domestically built large cruise ships.

The announcement emphasizes a long-term strategic framework and multi-level cooperation, but it does not quantify expected volumes or financial contributions. Actual business impact will depend on how effectively the joint venture attracts trainees, connects them with cruise operators, and scales its services within the global cruise and cultural tourism markets.

UNITED STATES 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 

OR 15d-16 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the month of January 2026

Commission File Number: 001-42682

Youlife Group Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Room C431, Changjiang Software Park 

No.180 South Changjiang Road 

Baoshan District, Shanghai 201900 

People’s Republic of China 

(Address of principal executive office)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F ☒       Form 40-F ☐

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

	Youlife Group Inc.
	By:	/s/ Yunlei Wang
	Name:	Yunlei Wang
	Title:	Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Date: January 9, 2026 

 1

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.		Description
Exhibit 99.1		Press Release

 2

Exhibit 99.1

Youlife Group Inc. Announces A Strategic Partnership With Sealand Maritime Service Co., Ltd. to Build a New Talent Ecosystem for High-end Cruise Tourism Services

BEIJING, January 9^th, 2026 /PRNewswire/ – Youlife Group Inc. (“Youlife” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: YOUL), a leading blue-collar lifetime service provider in China, today announced that it has entered into a joint venture agreement with Sealand Maritime Service Co., Ltd. (“Sealand”), a leading cruise crew recruitment and dispatch company in China. The two parties have jointly established Xiamen Youlife Sealand International Cultural Tourism Development Co., Ltd., a joint venture dedicated to building an integrated talent development and placement platform for the global cruise and cultural tourism industries. The platform aims to align vocational training, certification, and international employment resources to meet the rapidly expanding demand for cruise service professionals.

A Powerful Alliance to Build a Closed-Loop Cruise Talent Ecosystem

Youlife, a leading provider of blue-collar vocational development and workforce solutions in China, has built nearly two decades of expertise across vocational education and human resources services. The Company has established an end-to-end talent ecosystem that integrates vocational training, talent recruitment, employee management, and market services. The collaboration with Sealand represents a significant step forward in Youlife’s strategy to deepen its presence in specialized service sectors and to expand its global talent supply chain. Together, the partners aim to create a comprehensive, closed-loop model for talent development in the cruise and cultural tourism industries, spanning training, certification, international placement, and long-term service support.

Founded in 2001, Sealand is a recognized leader in China’s cruise crew recruitment and dispatch industry, and it holds official seafarer dispatch qualifications issued by the China Maritime Safety Administration, as well as relevant licenses from the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. Over the years, Sealand has focused exclusively on the recruitment, training, and deployment of cruise ship crew members and now serves as an official agent or core strategic partner for more than ten globally renowned cruise operators—including Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line (its exclusive agent in China), MSC Cruises, and Astro Ocean Cruises. This longstanding track record positions Sealand as one of the most influential players in China’s cruise talent export market.

Global Cruise Market Recovery Drives Structural Demand for Skilled Talent

In China, international cruise operations resumed in September 2023, with major routes such as Shanghai and Shenzhen returning to regular schedules. Global operators have re-entered the market, and domestically built large cruise ships have commenced commercial operations, accelerating industry localization and intensifying the need for highly trained cruise service talent. Against this backdrop, the formation of the joint venture demonstrates Youlife’s disciplined and forward-looking strategy to strengthen talent supply and support long-term industry development.

Institutional Collaboration to Support Global Cruise Talent Pipelines

The partnership is anchored in a long-term strategic framework, with the joint venture serving as a platform for sustained, multi-level cooperation. Planned initiatives include:

● Establishing an International Cruise and Cultural Tourism Industry Institute to deliver industry-oriented training and standardized certification programs.

● Developing targeted talent pipelines for overseas employment, leveraging Youlife’s nationwide vocational education network and Sealand’s extensive partnership with global cruise operators.

● Implementing data-driven platforms and standardized service systems to connect cruise companies with qualified Chinese talent through efficient and reliable international employment pathways.

Beyond operational cooperation, the partnership represents a deeper integration of vocational education and maritime service expertise. The parties aim to continuously supply high-quality, globally competitive talent to the cruise and broader cultural tourism sectors, fostering the development of a sustainable and scalable talent ecosystem.

About Youlife Group Inc.

Youlife is a leading blue-collar lifetime service provider with a nationwide network of 25 vocational schools under school management model and 25 curriculum development projects, covering a total of 37 cities or counties under 16 provinces of China. Learn more at https://ir.youlife.cn/.

About Sealand Maritime Service Co., Ltd.

Sealand is a leading cruise crew recruitment and dispatch company founded in 2001 in China, and it holds seafarer dispatch qualifications issued by the China Maritime Safety Administration, along with relevant approvals from the Ministry of Commerce and human resources authorities. Sealand maintains long-term partnerships with more than ten global cruise operators, including Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line (exclusive China agent), MSC Cruises, and StarCruises, and is a leading provider of cruise crew placement services in China.

Contact

Zhuhong Ruan
youlife.ir@youlanw.com
(86) 13917429808

FAQ

What did Youlife Group Inc. (YOUL) announce in this 6-K?

Youlife Group Inc. announced it has entered into a joint venture agreement with Sealand Maritime Service Co., Ltd. and jointly established Xiamen Youlife Sealand International Cultural Tourism Development Co., Ltd. to build an integrated talent development and placement platform for the global cruise and cultural tourism industries.

Who is Sealand Maritime Service Co., Ltd. in Youlife (YOUL)'s new partnership?

Sealand Maritime Service Co., Ltd. is described as a leading cruise crew recruitment and dispatch company in China, holding seafarer dispatch qualifications from the China Maritime Safety Administration and relevant licenses from the Ministry of Commerce and human resources authorities. It maintains long-term partnerships with more than ten global cruise operators, including Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, and Astro Ocean Cruises.

What is the goal of Youlife (YOUL) and Sealand's joint venture?

The joint venture, Xiamen Youlife Sealand International Cultural Tourism Development Co., Ltd., aims to create a comprehensive, closed-loop cruise talent ecosystem. It focuses on aligning vocational training, certification, and international employment resources to meet growing demand for cruise service professionals and to support long-term development in the cruise and broader cultural tourism sectors.

How does this joint venture fit Youlife Group Inc. (YOUL)'s business model?

Youlife operates as a blue-collar lifetime service provider in China, with a nationwide network of vocational schools and curriculum projects. The collaboration with Sealand is presented as a step in Youlife’s strategy to deepen its presence in specialized service sectors and expand its global talent supply chain, leveraging its existing vocational education and human resources services experience.

What industry trends support Youlife (YOUL) and Sealand's cruise talent initiative?

The announcement highlights that international cruise operations in China resumed in September 2023, with routes from cities such as Shanghai and Shenzhen returning to regular schedules. It also notes the entry of global operators and commercial operations of domestically built large cruise ships, which together are described as intensifying the need for highly trained cruise service talent and supporting the rationale for the joint venture.