In 2024, the number of college graduates in mainland China reached 11.79 million, with many facing unemployment immediately upon graduation. Post-80s female graduates are struggling to find jobs, resorting to multiple temporary jobs and breaking down in tears on the streets due to the harsh reality of life. The economic conditions in China are dire, with employees in large state-owned enterprises being laid off without warning, leading to physical and emotional exhaustion within a week.
The 2024 batch of Chinese college graduates is now stepping out of campuses, only to be met with a nationwide trend of unemployment upon graduation.
A worker in Shanghai, referred to as “Yuanyuan,” recently shared in a video the challenges fresh graduates face in finding employment, citing her brother’s experience as representative. She mentioned that her brother, a recent bachelor’s degree graduate, completed his internship, submitted his graduation thesis, and obtained his diploma. However, as July approached, he has yet to secure a job.
“He told me that none of the four people in his dormitory have found jobs; they have all returned home. They are either preparing for civil service exams or postgraduate entrance exams.”
Yuanyuan revealed that her brother, who specializes in software development, has applied to several software companies without any response. Surprisingly, many real estate agencies have actively sought out him and other fresh graduates.
Due to the official data, the number of graduates in 2024 has reached a record high of 11.79 million, with more than half of the recent graduates facing job scarcity, according to a recent survey conducted by Zhaopin Recruitment Platform.
Facing a daunting employment situation, experts warn that the issue of unemployment is worsening, and the outbreak of social unrest may only be a matter of time. The Chinese authorities have ordered various regions to explore ways to increase employment opportunities. University teachers interviewed by Voice of America mentioned the pressure on professors to focus on job placements, leading to challenges in accurately reporting employment figures by educational institutions.
Recently, an 80s blogger from Anhui, known as “Nuomi,” broke down in tears on the street in a video, lamenting the hardships of life. She revealed that despite graduating with a bachelor’s degree, she has been unemployed for over a year, relying on daily temporary jobs to make ends meet. The relentless struggle to survive has left her drained and exhausted.
“I work multiple jobs every day, yet my earnings are still insufficient to cover household expenses. I am constantly worrying about mortgage payments, car loans, childcare costs, and other daily expenses. It’s exhausting to constantly focus on making money. I feel as if I can’t go on living like this. Why is life so hard, no matter how hard I try?”
In Tianjin, a person named “Zimo” expressed shock through social media upon learning that her husband had been abruptly laid off. She shared about the callous approach of the human resources department in pressuring her husband to resign without any transitional period or handover of duties, all to avoid providing full compensation according to the length of his employment.
Such a significant event left her husband in disbelief and confusion, as he struggled to come to terms with his sudden dismissal. The calculated and ruthless actions of a large state-owned enterprise left him emotionally drained within a week. The impact of the unexpected layoff took a toll on their family, highlighting the harsh reality many Chinese workers face in the current job market.