China’s graduates pursue vocational training as firms eye practical, technical skills from problem solvers over academics
- Graduates have borne the brunt of shrinking demand as companies increasingly want experienced workers
- Record high 11.79 million college students are expected to graduate this year, adding further pressure to an already strained job market
A growing number of university graduates in China are attending vocational colleges for technical skills training amid heightened employment pressure and a subdued demand for inexperienced workers.
The shift highlights an increasing emphasis on practical abilities over academic qualifications amid intensifying competition, as well as mismatch between the educational system and the demands of the job market, analysts said.
In the past two years, Guangdong Lingnan Institute of Technology, a junior college in the southern trade hub Guangzhou, had at least 150 admissions by students with at least a Bachelor’s degree, according to a report published by the state-backed Xinhua News Agency last month.
The students aged between 22 and 52 are mainly seeking training in counselling, nutrition and health management, among other majors, with some having already obtained master’s and doctoral degrees from top schools in China, the institute said.
The ability to help companies solve problems and generate revenue are more important than academic credentials
“Fundamentally, the trend stems from the pressures and the competitive nature of the employment market,” said Peng Peng, executive chairman of the Guangdong Society of Reform, a think tank connected to the provincial government.