With the continuous downturn of the Chinese economy, the severity of the job market in China is beyond imagination. Even Ph.D. graduates from prestigious universities are finding it hard to secure jobs in both small and large companies. A recent job posting for a mortuary charging 3,500 yuan for a security guard position requiring 24-hour shifts for those under 30 years old and even a written test has sparked outrage and frustration in Chinese society, shining a light on the extremely tough job market situation. This undoubtedly reflects the “terrifying” reality of the employment environment in China.
The employment crisis is not only affecting entry-level positions and average university students but also making it difficult for Ph.D. graduates from top institutions to find employment. Recently, a 30-year-old female blogger and recent Ph.D. graduate in liberal arts from Zhejiang University, known as “Natural Curls,” shared a video on social media detailing her struggles to find work. She lamented, “I am completely jobless now. I really want to ask who said that students graduating from 985 universities can easily find jobs.”
“After spending four and a half years finally completing my doctoral studies, I found myself in a very surreal job search process. The companies I could have joined during my undergraduate and master’s studies like Alibaba and NetEase Games, I have no chance of entering now. Now that I am 30 and with a higher education, I am in a very awkward position in job hunting. Small companies are reluctant to hire me, and large companies believe I am not cost-effective. After every interview, there is no follow-up. Graduating from a prestigious university does not guarantee a job.”
She expressed her bewilderment, questioning why it’s so difficult to find employment now.
Financial blogger “Anxious Cola Cake” commented, “In today’s social environment, it’s not easy for liberal arts students, indeed it’s not easy to find a job. During good economic times, literary works and movie box offices thrived. But in the current environment, things related to liberal arts are generally not doing well. Movie box office revenues have also plummeted. This is essentially a reflection of the economic situation. In such economic conditions, everyone feels helpless. Current university graduates are generally facing poor job prospects. Many university students are already doing self-media and selling goods during their university days. Nowadays, universities advocate for students to find their own employment paths after graduation.”
Recently, the discussion about the job posting for a mortuary offering 3,500 yuan for a security guard requiring round-the-clock shifts has gone viral. The unique nature of the job, its salary, job requirements, and recruitment conditions have stirred up considerable public opinion in Chinese society.
Issued by the Changzi County Funeral Service Center in Shanxi Province, the recruitment is for contracted logistics personnel and mortuary security guards, requiring individuals under the age of 30. The job entails 24-hour surveillance of the mortuary and cemetery entrances, asking for and registering the identity of entering individuals, guiding vehicles to park properly, ensuring business personnel follow regulations, and stopping uncivilized or rule-breaking behavior.
The basic monthly compensation for the position is 3,300 yuan, with a performance bonus of 200 yuan per month, paid annually.
Additionally, the recruitment involves a written exam and an interview, with the closed-book written test focusing on professional basic knowledge. The recruitment announcement has sparked discussions among netizens.
Many netizens have expressed that the requirements are excessive, noting that a security position with a maximum age limit of 30, the demand for a written test, and the need for 24-hour shifts indicate how terrifying the current job market environment is.
In recent years, there have been numerous reports of graduates from prestigious Chinese universities working as waiters, street vendors, or delivering food. The term “full-time children” has emerged to mask the high unemployment rate and has become a popular term in Chinese society, portraying young people who are unemployed and staying at home as “full-time companions to parents,” aiming to mitigate social conflicts.
Moreover, Chinese universities including the Communication University of China have started advocating for “flexible employment” to present dazzling statistics.
“In the past, finding jobs relied on campus recruitment or seasonal job fairs. When I graduated, I didn’t have a job. The counselor asked me to create a Douyin account (TikTok) and write ‘flexible employment’ in my graduation destination. Look, with just an account, I became employed; no salary is also not a problem.” A recent graduate from 2023 shared with the BBC that she had changed jobs twice in two years since graduation, none of which satisfied her, leaving her unemployed.
What is more worrying is that, to survive and gain attention, some young people are forced to engage in borderline practices. Recently, a video of a young girl “dressed scantily” engaging in ambiguous activities while selling detergent in a live broadcast has gone viral on social media, with netizens accusing her of using provocative means to attract viewers. This approach has sparked discussions on the girl’s vulgar marketing tactics, challenging moral boundaries. One netizen aptly summarized, “This perfectly fits this era, where one must go to extremes to make money.”
In recent years, the continued economic downturn in China has directly led to increasingly severe employment issues. The wave of layoffs among the middle-aged population and the difficulty of young graduates in finding jobs have become the two major challenges facing Chinese society.
According to the Ministry of Education of the Communist Party of China, by the spring and summer of 2025, there will be 12.22 million college students graduating and entering society.
Previously, China welcomed 11.79 million college graduates in 2024, which was already recognized as the “hardest job-hunting season” in history.
Compared to the previous year, the employment situation in 2025 will only become more challenging with even more graduates. The chilling effects of this “employment Ice Age” are permeating every corner of society.