In July 1990, she became a party functionary at the national leadership of the China Petrochemical Trade Union, where she rose steadily through the ranks.
In October 2010, Yu was dispatched to Guizhou, to serve as deputy party chief of Guiyang, the provincial capital.
[2] In March 2015, Yu was named disciplinary group of the Organization Department of the Chinese Communist Party.
[3] In July 2018, Yu was named deputy party chief of Henan and head of the provincial political and legal affairs commission.
[4][5] In November 2019, Yu succeeded Liu Shiyu as chairperson of All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives.