Model workers play a key role in China's reform and opening up and socialist modernization. The theoretical overview of the role of model workers was originated in the Yan'an period. The role of model workers runs through different periods such as socialist construction, reform and opening up, and realizing the new era of the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and has different manifestations and connotations in different periods. The study believes that under the historical conditions of starting a new journey of building a socialist modem country in an all-round way, in order to make model workers play a better role, we must do a good job in strengthening the construction of model workers management system, publicizing model workers, and carrying forward the social atmosphere of advocating labor.