China’s youth-unemployment rate ticked lower in November, though competition remains fierce for university graduates trying to find work that matches their qualifications.
The jobless rate for those aged 16 to 24, excluding students, fell to 16.9 per cent in November from 17.3 per cent in October, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Thursday.
The rate has eased since August, when the graduation of a record 12.2 million university students over the summer pushed it to 18.9 per cent, the highest level since the data set was adjusted in 2023 to exclude students.
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The job market, weighed down by deflationary pressure and external risks, remains plagued by a mismatch between skills and vacancies, pushing many graduates to settle for blue-collar jobs or gig work.
Chen Lili, who completed her bachelor’s degree in public administration this year, began looking for a job in human resources before she graduated. Months later, after dozens of interviews that led nowhere, she is now reluctantly considering factory work.
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“Coming from a rural family, I don’t have a safety net,” she said. “I’ve had to support myself since graduation.”
Chen, who lives in Chongqing, said she had noticed many openings for roles like telemarketers, but not many for white-collar positions that matched her degree.