With rising youth unemployment, Chinese graduates take up roles like waiters, cleaners, and movie extras. Many overqualified individuals find themselves in positions far below their education levels. A delivery driver might have studied philosophy, while a cleaner could hold a degree in environmental planning. These are not isolated cases but represent a widespread trend in China’s challenging economy.
Dreams Deferred: Graduates Adapt to New Realities
Sun Zhan, a 25-year-old finance graduate, dreamed of working in investment banking but now waits tables in Nanjing. His parents disapprove of his job, considering it beneath his education. However, Sun plans to learn the restaurant business and open his own eatery, hoping to prove his critics wrong.
China produces millions of graduates annually, but job opportunities in fields like real estate and manufacturing have dwindled. Youth unemployment reached 18.8% in 2024 before improving slightly to 16.1%. Many graduates struggle to secure jobs in their chosen fields, facing criticism from family and friends for taking lower-skilled roles.
Wu Dan, a finance graduate from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, turned down private equity job offers due to unfavorable conditions. She now trains in sports massage, a career path her family initially opposed. Despite her current low income, Wu finds fulfillment in helping others and aspires to open her clinic.
China Youth Unemployment Challenges Higher Education Investment
Some graduates turn to the entertainment industry as a stopgap. Wu Xinghai, a 26-year-old engineering graduate, works as an extra in Hengdian’s film industry. Although he earns little, he enjoys the freedom and views this as temporary until he finds stable work.
Others, like Li, who studied film directing, also take short-term acting roles while hoping for a steady job in the future. Yet, many fear they’ll never secure a position matching their qualifications. The lack of confidence in the economy adds to the uncertainty.
Even employed graduates feel uneasy. Wu Dan notes that many of her friends are dissatisfied with their jobs and fear losing them. The uncertainty forces young people to reassess their career goals and adjust to a volatile job market.
Adapting Expectations in a Shifting Economy
Professor Zhang Jun from the City University of Hong Kong highlights that graduates are redefining what constitutes a “good job.” Layoffs and poor conditions in once-thriving industries like tech exacerbate the problem. Despite the challenges, some graduates, like Sun and Wu, hope to turn their current roles into stepping stones toward entrepreneurial success. Others remain uncertain but determined to explore paths that align with their interests.
China’s youth face a stark reality: the transition from student to professional has become a difficult and unpredictable journey.