In China, the “985” diploma used to be a symbol of elite status—a guarantee of good jobs, high income, and a stable life path. However, against the backdrop of economic downturn, industrial contraction, and worsening structural unemployment in China, the once “life assurance” is rapidly losing its value.
Recent interviews conducted by Dajiyuan with four 985 university graduates from different regions in fields such as architecture, computer science, and civil engineering reflect that even the highest educated individuals cannot avoid the fate of unemployment in an economic downturn.
One of the interviewees, Mr. Zou, a 35-year-old graduate in architecture from a 985 university, shared a shocking story. Having worked in the construction industry for many years, the high pressure and work environment took a toll on his health. He said, “I had a brain hemorrhage and haven’t fully recovered, so I can’t go to work.”
Unable to find employment in a company, Mr. Zou relies on running a stall and odd jobs to survive. He described his daily struggle, “I set up my stall at 4:30 am and finish at 9:00 am. In those four and a half hours, I sold four grilled sausages, earning a total of 11 yuan. It’s really tough!”
Many technical professionals around the age of 35 are being forced to switch industries due to industry contraction. Mr. Zou mentioned that given the current employment situation, the only “way out” for people like him is either becoming delivery drivers, working in food delivery, providing ride-hailing services, engaging in self-media broadcasting as internet influencers, or selling products online 24/7. He believes that the last option is taking civil service exams as a last resort. He expressed uncertainty about any other feasible paths.
Another interviewee, Xiao Zhang, a programmer with a 985 degree in computer science, is 40 years old. He recounted his experience of working as a programmer in Shenzhen for over a decade, facing immense pressure and exhaustion. Now unemployed, he struggles to find a job, saying, “I only have a little savings left now, it’s very difficult. I’ve tried looking for jobs in several cities but with no success.”
“I’m at an age where if I send out my resume, they directly offer me a 50% salary cut. Even though 40 is considered the prime age to work hard, the job market doesn’t see it that way. I have rich experience, but it doesn’t seem to matter. Despite being from an elite background, I now have to forget about my 985 degree. I’m very clear on this aspect,” Xiao Zhang lamented.
Concerned about his financial situation and responsibilities towards his family, Xiao Zhang expressed worry that if he remains jobless, his wife might leave him.
Xiao Zhang shared that after losing his job in Shenzhen, he tried selling breakfast at a stall but struggled to make sales. He summarized the harsh reality of middle-aged unemployment, emphasizing the limited room for error and the high cost of failed attempts, leaving them with no margin for mistakes.
Data reveals mounting pressure in China’s job market, with increasing anxiety among middle-aged and highly educated individuals. The high number of college graduates in China, reaching 11.58 million in 2023, coupled with structural unemployment and high youth unemployment rates, are the main triggers of anxiety among the 985 elite.
On social media, middle-aged job seekers concur that the issue lies not in the unemployment rate but in the difficulty of re-employment. A substantial number of highly educated individuals aged 35-45, with strong educational backgrounds but lacking suitable positions, face structural unemployment.
Furthermore, the exacerbation of industry layoffs has intensified the problem. Many major tech firms, automotive companies, and new energy enterprises are increasing their layoff rates. With declining exports and weak domestic demand, companies downsizing their workforce has become a norm.
Mr. Fu from Hunan holds a 985 master’s degree in civil engineering. He expressed his current difficult situation, narrating his journey from prosperity to destitution. At 35, he now finds himself with nothing—a situation he dubs as being a “man of five no’s” with no house, no car, no money, no wife, and no children, relying on others for support.
Mr. Fu recounted his past glories in real estate development after graduation, rising to a senior managerial position within four years and becoming the contract manager of a billion-dollar real estate company’s headquarters at the age of 30. He invested in stocks, earning hundreds of thousands over a decade, but eventually lost everything in a 4 million investment, having to sell his luxury cars and house in Changsha to repay debts, eventually losing everything and ending up in significant debt.
With all his cards frozen and a tarnished credit history affecting his job search prospects, Mr. Fu now works odd jobs, earning a meager income. He expressed his worries about supporting his family if he remains jobless, with his father now helping him repay his debts, which amount to over 700,000 yuan including interest. He hasn’t bought new clothes in years.
Mr. Fu’s goal is to find someone willing to marry him before he turns 38, seeing it as his only way out of his financial predicament. Otherwise, he might end up being a bachelor for life.
Not all setbacks faced by these individuals stem from the pressures of traditional industries; starting their own businesses has become a significant variable in the life paths of some elite graduates.
Ms. Yang is a prime example of this. An 80s-era graduate from Wuhan University with a 985 degree, she spent 24 years in Wuhan before facing financial challenges post-resignation from a good job at a central enterprise. After several failures and setbacks, she is now heavily in debt and working as a delivery driver, raising a child after divorce.
Having tried driving for ride-hailing services for years after leaving her job, she described her life as a downfall from once-high expectations, struggling to climb out from the bottom. She refrains from attending alumni gatherings, seeing herself as a cautionary tale.
These accounts from four 985 graduates reflect the anxieties of a generation facing unemployment, career changes, and sharp income declines. Their fates are just the tip of a much larger iceberg.