Recent graduates are not keen on finding jobs.

China: A wave of "slow job seekers" is rising in Shanghai, with more than a third of recent university graduates not eager to find work right away.

According to a survey of more than 4,000 recent graduates in the city conducted by China's National Bureau of Statistics in April, the percentage of those "slow to find employment" is 38%. This rate is more than double the 16% figure in 2015, when the term first appeared in China, reflecting the less urgent job-seeking attitude of graduates.

Among those who chose "delaying employment," 32% said they would continue their education. The percentage of those who postponed their job search without a specific plan was 6%, a fivefold increase compared to 2015.

A job fair for university graduates in Anhui province, September 2023. Photo: SCMP — A job fair for university graduates in Anhui province, September 2023. Photo: *SCMP*

The survey results come amid bleak job prospects in China. The unemployment rate among young people aged 16-24 reached a record high, exceeding 21% in June.

"Slow job growth doesn't necessarily mean unemployment. They're just disillusioned workers who have decided to 'stay put'," said Wang Dan, an expert at China's Hang Seng Bank.

Wang noted that the families of many recent graduates now have sufficient financial resources to support them – those who are called "full-time children" or "paid children." But in the long run, young people cannot stay home for too long because their parents' pensions and resources will become limited.

A survey in Shanghai also showed that after three years of switching to online learning, the new generation of graduates lacks internship experience and communication skills. This poses a major challenge for them in the job market.

While young people struggle to find jobs in the heavily impacted private sector, civil service positions are also extremely competitive, considered a safe haven. Nearly 2.6 million people are expected to take the civil service exam this November, the highest number in almost a decade in China. But with 37,100 positions available, an average candidate will be competing against nearly 6,000 others.

This year, China has 11.6 million university graduates, with 2% of them in Shanghai. Overall, the sluggish job market has led many graduates to pursue master's degrees instead of immediate employment, increasing their competitiveness. Statistics up to the end of last year show that the number of students enrolling in overseas programs increased by over 23% compared to 2021, with approximately 81% choosing to pursue master's degrees.

Khanh Linh (According to SCMP)

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