Shanxi Xinghua Village Fenjiu Group Limited Liability Company, also known as “Fenjiu Group,” has recently recruited over ten master’s degree graduates to work as frontline liquor makers and packagers. This news made headlines on March 11, sparking discussions once again about the devaluation of academic qualifications in China.
On March 9, Fenjiu Group released a list of intended personnel for frontline technical workers in production for the year 2026. Among them, over ten master’s degree graduates were hired as liquor makers and packagers, roles that require physical labor. After this news was reported by several Chinese media outlets on March 10, it drew attention and controversy from netizens, with questions like “Do you need such high degrees to use a shovel or spread yeast?” echoing online.
In response, the recruitment personnel at Fenjiu Group stated to the Hangzhou Daily on March 10 that as long as applicants meet the requirements in the job posting, whether they have a technical school diploma or a master’s degree, they are eligible to apply. The positions for liquor makers and packagers in this public recruitment drive are indeed frontline roles with significant physical labor requirements.
In January of this year, Fenjiu Group released a recruitment advertisement stating they were hiring a total of 220 frontline technical workers, including 110 liquor makers and 110 packagers.
On March 9, Fenjiu Group publicly announced the list of intended personnel for this recruitment. The list revealed that out of the 196 intended hires with varying educational backgrounds such as technical school diplomas, college degrees, and master’s degrees, 19 were master’s degree graduates.
Following the release of this news, it once again brought attention to the difficulties in finding employment in China. On one hand, netizens believe that the value of education in China is decreasing, with one netizen named “呼嚕丶葫蘆” stating, “The value of education is declining while capability remains constant.” Some also attribute the issue to the economic downturn and job scarcity, viewing it as a desperate measure for survival. The recruitment personnel at Fenjiu Group mentioned earlier also noted, “Our (group’s) income is still competitive within the industry.”
Public information shows that Shanxi Xinghua Village Fenjiu Group Limited Liability Company was established in March 2002, evolving from the former Shanxi Xinghua Village Fenjiu (Group) Company into a state-owned sole proprietorship. Headquartered in Xinghua Village, Fenyang City, Shanxi Province, the company’s main business focuses on producing and operating Chinese famous liquors like Fenjiu and Zhuyeqing liquor. Xinghua Village in Shanxi is the birthplace of Chinese liquor and liquor culture, with a brewing history dating back to 6000 years ago during the Yangshao culture, crafting the earliest artificial cereal wine in Chinese history. This marked the beginning of an uninterrupted 6000-year history of liquor production in Xinghua Village.