In China, the job market has pushed many highly educated young people into roles far below their qualifications. Stories abound of a high-school handyman with a master’s in physics, cleaners with degrees in environmental planning, delivery drivers educated in philosophy, and even a PhD from Tsinghua University applying for jobs as an auxiliary police officer.
The economic downturn has hit hard, particularly in sectors like real estate and manufacturing, leading to these unusual career paths. “My dream was to work in investment banking,” laments Sun Zhan, a 25-year-old with a finance master’s, now working as a waiter at a hot pot restaurant in Nanjing. Despite his qualifications, he couldn’t find a job in his field, reflecting a broader issue where millions of graduates face job scarcity each year.
Youth unemployment had hovered around 20% before statistical adjustments were made to present a rosier picture. Even in November 2024, the rate was still at 16.1%. This mismatch between education and employment has led to widespread family disapproval, as seen with Sun Zhan, whose parents were disappointed with his career choice. “My family’s views matter to me,” he says, “but this is my choice.” He’s planning to use his current job to learn the restaurant industry with the aim of opening his own establishment, hoping to turn critics into supporters.
“Mainland China’s job market is exceptionally challenging, pushing young people to recalibrate their expectations,” notes Professor Zhang Jun from the City University of Hong Kong. Students are pursuing higher education for better job prospects, only to find the reality starkly different.
Wu Dan, 29, with a finance degree from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, echoes this sentiment. After working in futures trading, she now trains as a sports injury massage therapist in Shanghai, a decision met with family disbelief due to the contrast in job prestige and salary. “They couldn’t fathom why I’d choose a physically demanding job with low pay,” she explains, noting that she can only afford to live in Shanghai due to her partner’s property ownership.
These anecdotes paint a vivid picture of a generation of Chinese youth navigating an unforgiving job landscape, where traditional paths to success are increasingly blocked, forcing a reevaluation of what success and career satisfaction mean.
