Persistent unemployment, weak industrial capacity, and unsafe working conditions continue to challenge development efforts in Nigeria, prompting renewed attention to Learning from China and the United States: Revisiting Vocational Education, Industrial Expansion, and Workers’ Health in Nigeria. This paper examined the structure and outcomes of vocational education systems in China and the United States, assessed the current state of vocational education and its link with industrial development and workers’ health in Nigeria, and identified adaptable elements for reform. The paper was anchored on Human Capital Theory and Skill Formation Theory which together explain how skills acquisition and institutional arrangements shape productivity and labour outcomes. An analytical review approach was adopted, involving systematic identification, critical appraisal, and thematic synthesis of recent empirical and theoretical studies. Findings revealed that China’s coordinated, state-driven vocational system and the United States’ flexible, industry-linked model have significantly supported industrial expansion, improved employability, and strengthened workplace safety practices. In contrast, Nigeria’s vocational education system remains weakly connected to industrial needs, characterised by inadequate infrastructure, skill mismatches, and limited integration of occupational health training, thereby constraining productivity and exposing workers to avoidable risks. The paper concluded that vocational education must be repositioned as a strategic instrument linking skills development, industrial policy, and workers’ well-being. It recommended among others the establishment of vocational–industrial clusters, institutionalisation of dual training systems, and integration of occupational health and safety into curricula to enhance industrial growth and protect workers in Nigeria.