Amid the backdrop of economic pressure and a sluggish job market in China, the phenomenon of internal competition for employment among highly educated talents is intensifying. In recent years, an increasing number of doctoral and master’s degree graduates are entering the competition for positions as teachers in primary and secondary schools, with even Ph.D. graduates from prestigious universities such as Tsinghua, Peking University, and Cambridge now teaching in middle schools. Data shows that there are currently over 860,000 master’s and doctoral degree holders teaching in primary and secondary schools nationwide.
According to a report by “Yicai” on September 13, the number of teachers with master’s and doctoral degrees in primary and secondary schools has been rapidly increasing in recent years.
Based on education statistics updated by the Ministry of Education up to 2024, the media outlet found that among primary and secondary school teachers, there are 5,910 with doctoral degrees and 856,634 with master’s degrees, totaling over 860,000 people with graduate-level education.
The report indicates that the trend of graduates from prestigious universities teaching in primary and secondary schools, especially in middle schools, is on the rise. In major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, as well as key middle schools in economically developed cities and strong counties, there has been a notable influx of Ph.D. graduates from renowned universities.
Taking Shenzhen Middle School, a prestigious school in Guangdong Province, as an example, the school publicly disclosed that there are over 100 doctoral teachers, over 150 teachers who graduated from Tsinghua and Peking University, and over 100 teachers who graduated from top overseas universities like Harvard, MIT, Oxford, and Cambridge.
According to the list of prospective personnel forwarded by the Shenzhen Human Resources Department, all 21 prospective personnel to be hired by Shenzhen Middle School in 2026 hold graduate-level qualifications, including 5 doctoral and 16 master’s degree holders. For instance, a Ph.D. graduate in electrical engineering from Tsinghua University is proposed to become a high school math teacher, and a Ph.D. graduate in electrical engineering from Cambridge University is proposed to become a high school physics teacher, among others.
As reported by “Southern Metropolis Daily,” when Suzhou High School in Jiangsu Province recruited outstanding graduates in 2025, they ultimately hired 13 individuals, including 8 doctoral and 5 master’s degree holders, with 6 graduates from Tsinghua University and 4 graduates from Peking University, all of whom did not major in education.
In the past, entering academia or research institutions after obtaining a Ph.D. was often considered an ideal career path. However, in recent years, competition for academic positions has become increasingly fierce, with some universities requiring applicants to have backgrounds from prestigious overseas universities, as well as post-doctoral experience, research achievements, and other qualifications. This shift reflects the heightened competition among highly educated talents in the job market.
On September 14, the topics of “Over 860,000 Master’s and Ph.D. Graduates Teaching in Primary and Secondary Schools” and “Ph.D. Graduates from Tsinghua, Peking University, and Cambridge Teaching in Middle Schools” surged on Weibo.
Public figure and Weibo influencer “Zhang Ye 0003” posted, “A few years ago, Dongya Middle School in Changsha recruited a chemistry teacher. Many university graduates, including those from top universities, applied for the position. However, the school ended up hiring a chemistry Ph.D. graduate from the Chinese Academy of Sciences.”
Parenting blogger “NNmom” expressed, “Jobs are hard to come by, the economy is declining, and the value of education is depreciating. In recent years, many Ph.D. graduates from top universities like Tsinghua, Peking, and Cambridge have started teaching in prominent middle schools. Some pursue stability and good benefits, while public opinion on this matter is divided, with some seeing it as beneficial for upgrading basic education and others worrying about the over-qualification of top talent entering grassroots positions.”
Video blogger and Weibo influencer “Bringing books forward” believes, “On one hand, it shows that being a teacher in middle school is attractive, on the other hand, it indicates an oversupply of master’s and Ph.D. holders, and on the third hand, it also reflects the difficulty for university graduates to find good jobs. Middle school teachers have secure positions and very guaranteed income, unlike in companies where they may face pay cuts or layoffs. Particularly in major cities and progressive cities, middle school teachers have high incomes and respectable work, making it challenging for graduates from top universities to enter.”