Recently, mainland Chinese economists have pointed out that the income expectations of young people in China have been significantly lowered, with job opportunities becoming scarce. They emphasize that in the midst of economic decline, middle-aged individuals feel hopeless and young people lack a sense of future prospects. China’s post-80s and post-90s generations are now entering middle age, bearing the heavy burden in their lives and spirits, while the post-2000 generation is seen as the “most laid-back generation in history”.
At the 2025 Investment Strategy Conference held by Guotou Securities on November 3rd in Shenzhen, Guotou Industry Research Institute Director and Chief Economist Gao Shanwen delivered a speech.
Using data from over thirty provincial-level administrative regions in mainland China and the pre-epidemic consumption growth situation, Gao Shanwen pointed out that since the outbreak of the epidemic, consumer spending has been weak, and the public lacks confidence in revenue growth. For instance, prior to the epidemic, the proportion of young people and consumption were not directly correlated. However, after the epidemic, provinces with a higher proportion of young people experienced poorer consumption.
He believes that the downward revision in income expectations for young people has significantly suppressed consumer confidence and willingness to buy property. He points out that middle-aged individuals in China have nothing to look forward to, while young people lack any sense of vigor.
The above article has been deleted from some mainland websites but is still widely circulated on social media. Foreign media such as “Bloomberg” reported on this lecture under the headline “Young people devoid of vitality”. The experts’ speech has resonated widely.
In general, individuals aged 25 to 35 are considered young people, while those around 35 to 55 are classified as middle-aged. China’s post-80s and post-90s generations have now entered the ranks of middle-aged individuals.
Guangdong blogger Xiaotao described the true state of the post-80s and post-90s people around him in a self-media program. He stated that the post-80s and post-90s individuals who belong to the middle class are mostly devoid of happiness: burdened with mortgage and car loan pressures, as well as facing challenges in relationships. This generation has the highest divorce rate and the highest number of singles. Those around him, who are post-80s and post-90s, all have various loans to repay – credit card debt, online loans, car loans, mortgage loans, renovation loans, rent, various leases. The oppression, anxiety, and confusion in this living condition are only understood by those who have experienced it. Some individuals in this generation are heavily in debt, with many being unable to repay their loans on time.
He mentioned that the post-80s and post-90s siblings are in their thirties and forties, with elderly parents and young children to take care of, yet they cannot see the direction of their lives. Sometimes they have no choice but to rely on their parents. Most of them have bought houses and cars using loans, hence they dare not fall ill, as they might not be able to pay their loans for the month if they get sick. Therefore, the post-80s and post-90s are gritting their teeth and enduring it all. Day by day, year by year, enduring in this manner, who knows until when they can bear it! He believes that the post-80s and post-90s generation is wasted.
Xiaotao’s viewpoint struck a chord. Under his video, many netizens left comments expressing their opinions.
“DWade”: The post-80s and post-90s individuals are like the walking dead, just enduring each day, without any sense of happiness.
Henan netizen “Single-loop Longing”: I was born in 1985, and from birth until now, I have not benefited at all from the official policies. After the epidemic, my mindset has changed significantly. When I see a police car, I feel “afraid”. There are reasons that some people may understand. Now, I hardly pay attention to national affairs anymore, I just take care of myself, living this way as an ordinary citizen, what more can I do?
“Striving130625472”: The post-80s and post-90s are a sacrificed generation in society.
“Ruile Industry”: They are the most brutally exploited generation by capital.
With middle-aged individuals from the post-80s and post-90s feeling immense pressure, what about the younger generation, the post-2000s? On mainland Chinese social media, the statement “Post-2000s are the most laid-back generation in history” sparked resonance.
As 2024 draws to a close, the Chinese Ministry of Education predicts that the number of university graduates in China will reach 12.22 million next year, setting a new historical record. However, the pressure of employment continues to escalate, and the dilemma of university students facing unemployment immediately after graduation seems unsolvable.
Blogger Chenxi, with 490,000 followers, indicated that in the next decade, the number of Chinese university graduates will continue to rise, escalating the pressure for employment, just thinking about it suffocates people. The irony is that currently, it is the most difficult for individuals with undergraduate and postgraduate degrees to find employment. In reality, everyone can only work relentlessly, pushing themselves to their limits.
He mentioned that the future job market will become even more competitive. The number of university students is increasing each year, whereas the number of jobs available is decreasing. What should be done in such a scenario? Education has now turned into a blatant business. Universities are expanding the enrollment of master’s and doctoral programs, causing undergraduates to study for more years, delaying their entry into the labor market fundamentally.
Not too long ago, Voice of America reported on Wade, a 20-year-old from Chongqing who graduated from high school and went to Australia to study law, currently in his second year. He mentioned that one of the main reasons for choosing to study abroad was his concerns about the future development and employment environment in China, including the difficulty of finding a job, high stress levels, and poor treatment.
Wade described his friends who stayed in China as “exceptionally burdened”, whenever discussing about studying and job issues, they make him feel under immense pressure. He stated that some students even start frantically looking for internships from the first year, and those who can’t find one spend money to buy internship opportunities. “Faking” has become an open secret.
Wade mentioned that the most direct reflection of employment pressure for university students is seen in pursuing postgraduate studies or civil service exams. With the intensifying phenomenon of “educational inflation”, taking the postgraduate exams has become crucial for enhancing competitiveness, and it has also become a “haven” for some job seekers who have failed in their job search.
Wade highlighted that several unfavorable conditions, such as the economic situation in China, have significantly lowered the “expectations for the future” among his peers. He holds a pessimistic view of China’s future, believing that many rights and freedoms are gradually being compressed. He admitted that he does not plan to consider returning to China for development in the future.
Chenxi mentioned that the essence and true purpose of education are to cultivate young people, not only equipping them with vast knowledge but also fostering healthy bodies and a positive and optimistic spirit. However, education has deviated from its path, prioritizing grades, academic qualifications, and physical exertion, ultimately leading the post-2000s generation into a dead end.
He explained that the engine of internal competition in China has already been set in motion, spinning like a high-speed meat grinder. The eventual outcome will be that while everyone else is being pressured, it also suffocates oneself.
Some netizens expressed that due to the struggles faced by the post-80s and post-90s, more and more post-2000s are choosing not to marry or have children, leading to feelings of loneliness and solitude.