As youth unemployment in China hovers around 16%, many graduates are forced to rethink their career aspirations, taking up roles such as waiters and film extras, often against their family's expectations.
China's Graduates Face Harsh Job Market: From Degrees to Dead Ends
China's Graduates Face Harsh Job Market: From Degrees to Dead Ends
Chinese youth with advanced degrees are accepting jobs far below their qualifications, revealing a troubling economic reality.
In China's bustling cities, the narrative of the overqualified graduate is becoming increasingly common. Sun Zhan, a 25-year-old with a master's degree in finance, finds himself working as a hotpot waiter in Nanjing after struggling to secure a position in investment banking. "I looked for such a job, with no good results," he candidly admits. His experience highlights a larger trend where degrees in various fields such as physics, environmental planning, and philosophy do not guarantee suitable job placements.
Amidst a struggling economy, where key industries like real estate and manufacturing are stalling, the youth unemployment rate approached 20% and has only slightly improved to 16.1% in November. The number of university graduates continues to rise, but job availability remains stagnant, leaving many young people in positions that do not reflect their hard-earned qualifications.
Many graduates face disapproval from their families for taking jobs seen as beneath their education level. Sun Zhan's parents prefer they pursue traditional public service careers. However, he harbors aspirations of owning his own restaurant in the future. “This is my choice,” he states, resolute in his decision.
Wu Dan, 29, shares a similar story. After obtaining a finance degree from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, she found herself training in a sports injury massage clinic instead. "The job market has been really tough," she observes, aware that many of her peers face underemployment. Despite initial family resistance, Wu found satisfaction in her new field and aims to open her own clinic one day.
Professor Zhang Jun from the City University of Hong Kong expresses concern over the alarming job market, noting that young graduates are compelled to redefine what constitutes a “good job.” As major companies, including tech firms, lay off employees, prospects diminish in traditional employment fields.
Amid this economic uncertainty, many unemployed graduates are turning to the film and television industry. In Hengdian, China's filmmaking hub, young graduates are finding work as extras in major productions. Wu Xinghai, a 26-year-old with a background in electronic engineering, plays the role of a bodyguard, noting that although he has no lines, he appreciates the freedom of working as an extra.
“It’s blurry out there,” says Li, who prefers to remain nameless, majoring in film directing. Like many of his peers, he hopes for stable work in the future but acknowledges that many of them settle for roles far from their original ambitions. The overarching sentiment is one of uncertainty, as today's graduates grapple with an unpredictable job market and reevaluate their aspirations in a challenging economy.
With no clear path ahead, graduates like Wu Dan are learning to navigate the shifting landscape: “I will just go with the flow and gradually explore what I really want to do.”
Amidst a struggling economy, where key industries like real estate and manufacturing are stalling, the youth unemployment rate approached 20% and has only slightly improved to 16.1% in November. The number of university graduates continues to rise, but job availability remains stagnant, leaving many young people in positions that do not reflect their hard-earned qualifications.
Many graduates face disapproval from their families for taking jobs seen as beneath their education level. Sun Zhan's parents prefer they pursue traditional public service careers. However, he harbors aspirations of owning his own restaurant in the future. “This is my choice,” he states, resolute in his decision.
Wu Dan, 29, shares a similar story. After obtaining a finance degree from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, she found herself training in a sports injury massage clinic instead. "The job market has been really tough," she observes, aware that many of her peers face underemployment. Despite initial family resistance, Wu found satisfaction in her new field and aims to open her own clinic one day.
Professor Zhang Jun from the City University of Hong Kong expresses concern over the alarming job market, noting that young graduates are compelled to redefine what constitutes a “good job.” As major companies, including tech firms, lay off employees, prospects diminish in traditional employment fields.
Amid this economic uncertainty, many unemployed graduates are turning to the film and television industry. In Hengdian, China's filmmaking hub, young graduates are finding work as extras in major productions. Wu Xinghai, a 26-year-old with a background in electronic engineering, plays the role of a bodyguard, noting that although he has no lines, he appreciates the freedom of working as an extra.
“It’s blurry out there,” says Li, who prefers to remain nameless, majoring in film directing. Like many of his peers, he hopes for stable work in the future but acknowledges that many of them settle for roles far from their original ambitions. The overarching sentiment is one of uncertainty, as today's graduates grapple with an unpredictable job market and reevaluate their aspirations in a challenging economy.
With no clear path ahead, graduates like Wu Dan are learning to navigate the shifting landscape: “I will just go with the flow and gradually explore what I really want to do.”
