Beijing: After a full day of work, Li Yiran’s efforts are far from over. She continues developing a website product focused on AI programming.
The 26-year-old graduated from University College London in 2024 currently works at a private firm in a position related to her economics major in Shanghai. The position, which took her quite a bit of effort to secure, offers decent pay, but it falls short of the expectations she once held for someone with her academic background. Now, she is exploring other paths.
A recent report by US’ National Public Radio noted that the unemployment rate among recent graduates is close to 6 percent this spring, making it the most challenging job market in the last decade. But this employment crisis is just the tip of the global iceberg.
Too many young people across the globe are not in employment, education, or training, and opportunities to access decent jobs remain limited in emerging and developing economies, according to a report titled Global Employment Trends for Youth 2024 released by the International Labour Organization in August 2024.
The report also said that there are not enough high-skill jobs for the supply of educated youth, especially in middle-income countries, widening the gap between education systems and labor market needs.
China also faces similar problems. According to the latest 2024-2025 statistical overview of Beijing’s education development, issued by the Beijing Municipal Education Commission, the number of postgraduate graduates now exceeds that of undergraduates in the city.
To address these challenges, China is realigning education policies, vocational systems, and talent cultivation pathways to bridge the gap between academia and industry.
Rewriting personal credentials
Li said she began preparing her resume as early as when she started her graduate course, only to realize that a “high degree” was no longer as advantageous as she’d imagined – whether in China or abroad.
“When I was discouraged by all the news about the job market, even my parents suggested I consider doing a PhD. But the longer I hesitated, the more I realized that the old model of just ‘getting more degrees’ no longer worked,” Li told the Global Times.
Like many of her peers, Li used to believe in the logic that “studying hard would lead to a good job.” Adjusting one’s expectations and staying motivated in today’s job climate has become a real challenge for her.
As a business major with no technical background or internship experience, Li knew that switching careers would be a long shot – but she still wanted to try.
“I’ve followed the AI industry closely since I first used ChatGPT in 2023. It wasn’t an impulsive interest. People often question me – ‘Is this realistic with blank background?’ or ‘Is your current job really that bad?’ But honestly, after all these years in school, AI is the only field that’s ever genuinely excited me. Even if the field is still developing, I want to keep up with the technology and see where it can take me.”
Li is far from alone. Social media platforms in China are flooded with people considering similar pivots into emerging tech. She received practical advice that helped her adjust her initial, overly academic approach.
“For example, I started learning theory through free online courses. But an AI strategy product manager advised me not to get bogged down by machine learning or math. For someone like me, having project experience and knowing the boundaries of models is more important. I needed to pick an industry, integrate my existing strengths, and start working on AI-related projects, whether in data, model building, or business implementation.”
Many of her peers are doing the same – brushing up on AI skills to prepare for possible future opportunities, despite holding what seem to be “impressive” academic credentials.
Beyond AI, some people are investing in practical skills linked to traditional industries such as manufacturing and services. On Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu (also known as RedNote), the hashtag “skill enhancement” has attracted over 65 million views, with users exchanging tips on tailoring, cosmetology, and more. Some are taking vocational courses, while others are self-learning through online platforms.
This trend has even sparked “skill exchange” initiatives across the country. Recently, a barbecue research institute is set to be established in Yueyang, Central China’s Hunan Province to cultivate talent to promote local barbecue industry and culinary culture, with the enrollment of students beginning next year, expecting to train 1,000 barbecue chefs within three years. -The Daily Mail-Global Times News Exchange Items
