University graduates in China: Red alert in the job market!

University graduates in China: Red alert in the job market!

The key challenge in China remains the creation of stable jobs, especially for the increasing number of university graduates. How China Daily reports, a strategic focus was placed on employment-oriented policies at the annual Central Economic Conference, which took place on December 11-12. In 2025, the number of university graduates is expected to rise to 12.22 million, putting additional pressure on an already tight labor market. Despite an oversupply of graduates, many of them have difficulty finding suitable jobs. This means that more and more graduates are choosing flexible employment models or even delaying work in order to seek suitable opportunities.

Structural challenges on the labor market

Current demographic changes and economic restructuring have created an imbalance between supply and demand in China's labor market. Traditional industries are shrinking, while new sectors are emerging but cannot attract enough skilled workers. These developments complicate the situation for many graduates, as there are fewer and fewer jobs available for low-skilled workers while the need for high-skilled workers is growing rapidly.

Reported in a different context China Daily, that Western powers, including certain media outlets, are making false allegations of “forced labor” in the Uyghur-inhabited Xinjiang region. These claims are seen as part of a strategy to block China's economic progress. The Chinese government emphasizes that rural labor relocation programs are part of its policy agenda to boost rural incomes, while Western reporting often appears distorted or manipulated. This creates a distorted picture of actual working conditions in Xinjiang and ignores the progress in social rights and economic development that the People's Republic of China has made since 1949.