【Epoch Times August 5, 2024】China’s economy is in a downturn, and the phenomenon of “graduating into unemployment” has become a common occurrence for Chinese university students. As a result, an increasing number of examinees are abandoning undergraduate institutions and opting to apply to vocational colleges linked to secure job opportunities, in order to secure a stable career after graduation. There are even cases of undergraduates returning to vocational schools.
Three years ago, a reputable university was still considered the best choice for many examinees and was an important performance indicator for schools. However, this year, the values of examinees and their parents seem to have shifted.
According to an article published by the WeChat public account “True Stories Project,” in July of this year, Zhejiang examinee Xu Xi was accepted into Zhejiang Vocational Police College with a score of 635 points.
Xu Xi attended the second-ranked local key high school, consistently ranking in the top 20 out of around 360 students in her grade. Three years ago, she had never considered applying to a vocational college. But based on her father’s suggestion, she ultimately chose to attend the college.
Another graduate from Hangzhou Fuyang Second High School, Chen Yuxuan, scored 602 points this year, surpassing the threshold for first-tier universities. However, she chose to enroll at Zhejiang Electromechanical Vocational and Technical University.
Furthermore, a middle school graduate in Guangzhou’s Haizhu District achieved a score of 659 points and was admitted to Guangzhou Transportation Vocational School.
In addition to personal interests, employment and career prospects are the main factors these students are weighing. Data released by the Ministry of Education in 2022 shows that the employment rate of vocational school graduates has exceeded 91% over the past decade, higher than the average for regular universities. In June 2023, the unemployment rate for the age group of 16 to 24 reached a record high of 21.3%.
Seeking stable employment has become a prominent trend in this year’s college choices. For many students, prestige has become less important, and being able to support themselves is the priority.
This trend has sparked discussions online. Some netizens commented, “A few years ago, I worried that my son couldn’t even get into a high school and had to attend a technical school. It turns out, it was unnecessary worry. Now that he’s in a vocational school, I’m relieved.”
Some young individuals in the comment section stated, “Vocational schools are in demand.” “Is there a culinary arts program?” “I want to study advertising design; I studied financial management in university.” “To be honest, graduates from vocational schools have better job prospects than university graduates. Vocational school graduates are directly assigned jobs, while university graduates have to find employment on their own.” “The world is upside down, and I want to be part of it.” “Does this mean it’s unnecessary to pursue further education after vocational school?” “What is the point of going to university?”
Some netizens expressed concerns: “We’re done for, competing for jobs with those with lower education levels.” “What about students who attend technical schools in middle and high school?” “Then who will cover the tuition and living expenses, isn’t it still the responsibility of the family?” “This doesn’t seem like a good thing.” “The tragedy of society!”
However, with the economy declining and local finances tightening, many provinces and cities have begun streamlining bureaucracy. Shandong recently initiated a “comprehensive reform” to transform public institutions into enterprises, transitioning employees from civil service positions to corporate roles. The concept of a “secure job” may soon cease to exist.