A 24-year-old Chinese graduate who earned a master’s degree in physics and hoped to work in the scientific field has started a job as a janitor at a high school in Suzhou, eastern China. This news has sparked widespread debate online as China grapples with an economic slowdown and rising unemployment rates.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics hired this young graduate as a temporary contract cleaner last week. The story quickly gained attention online, as many young Chinese struggle to find jobs due to a shrinking job market. As of August, one in five young job seekers is unemployed, forcing many to temper their career ambitions.
China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that the unemployment rate among young people aged 16 to 24, excluding students, rose from 17.1% in July to 18.8% in August. This is the highest level since the Chinese government modified its statistical methods due to concerns about the high unemployment rate. In June, when the unemployment rate for this age group peaked at 21.3%, the government temporarily halted statistical announcements and changed the calculation method to exclude students currently enrolled in school. Reporting resumed in December with a figure of 14.9% but has continued to rise since then.
The high youth unemployment rate remains one of the biggest challenges for the Chinese government as it strives to stabilize the economy and restore public confidence. Peng Peng, executive chairman of the Guangdong Society of Reform and a think tank related to the southern provincial government, told SCMP, “This year, everyone is facing unemployment pressure, which has an added effect on youth employment – even relying on parents is no longer easy.” He added that while jobs in caregiving, housekeeping, and cleaning services remain relatively easy to find, many young graduates have resorted to becoming delivery drivers. This sector has now reached saturation.
Many young people opt to pursue graduate studies instead of entering the workforce. Several universities, including Lanzhou University and the University of Science and Technology of China, reported that graduate students now exceed undergraduates. The Chinese Academy of Sciences has seen its graduate enrollment swell to 37 times that of its undergraduate population.
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