China’s economy is on the decline, with a wave of unemployment hitting the country. College students are finding it difficult to secure jobs, leading to a decrease in the value of their degrees. The latest news reveals that a gas company in Luzhou, Sichuan, is planning to hire graduates from top universities such as Peking University for meter reading and maintenance work, sparking discussions among netizens.
A screenshot circulating online recently shows a public notice from Huarunxinglu Gas Co., Ltd. in Luzhou, Sichuan, indicating the company’s intention to hire three meter reading and maintenance workers. One of the candidates is a 24-year-old graduate student in International Relations from the University of Edinburgh, another is a 41-year-old undergraduate in International Economics and Trade from Peking University, and the third is a 39-year-old college graduate in Art Design from Sichuan Normal University.
On the 9th, the reporter from “Extreme Vision News”, a mainland media outlet, contacted Huarunxinglu Gas Co., Ltd. regarding the recruitment. A company representative mentioned that the recruitment information would be posted on the South Sichuan Talent Network, but they were not aware of the specific details of the hiring. Checking the talent network confirmed that the list of candidates matched the information circulating online.
Reportedly, Huarunxinglu Gas Co., Ltd. had previously recruited for meter reading and maintenance positions, with a requirement of three individuals holding a college degree or higher, regardless of field of study, and aged 45 or below. The job description emphasized the preference for candidates with knowledge in gas-related industries and practical experience, as well as specific certifications related to gas equipment safety management.
Responding to the placement of top university graduates in such roles, netizens expressed dismay, calling it a chaotic situation and reflecting on the challenges of survival in a distorted society. Some remarked on the simplicity of meter reading work, suggesting that even middle school students could handle the task, and the salary need not be high.
In recent years, a growing number of college graduates in China have faced unemployment, with a record 12.22 million students expected to graduate this year. On June 4, a Shanghai blogger shared their observation that a significant percentage of these graduates, likely over 60%, struggle to find employment, and those who do often face low wages and poor conditions, barely enough to get by.
It has been pointed out that 95% of jobs do not require a bachelor’s degree, highlighting a mismatch between the skills acquired in university and the demands of the job market. As graduation season approaches, many Chinese youth have been sharing their employment status online, revealing that a majority of their classmates remain unemployed.
As the issue of youth unemployment escalates, an increasing number of Chinese graduates are turning to domestic, cleaning, security, and similar jobs for employment. A report released by the mainland life service platform “58 Daojia” revealed that in 2024, the number of Chinese university graduates working in domestic services was 4.2 times higher than in 2023, indicating a growing trend towards alternative job choices among the youth.