Archive · 20 Nov 2025
China's Vocational Education Push: Too Many Graduates, Too Few Jobs
China has too many university graduates and not enough jobs for them.
The government is trying to fix this by improving vocational education and encouraging more people to learn practical skills.
Some students are happy with their vocational training, but others still prefer to get university degrees because they think they'll get better jobs that way.
China is struggling with a surplus of university graduates and a shortage of jobs for them.
The government is revamping vocational education to address this issue and meet future skill demands.
New initiatives include creating 40 new vocational courses, upskilling 30m workers, and encouraging university graduates to pursue technical training.
Despite efforts, university graduates still enjoy hiring priority over vocational students.
Some students are optimistic about their job prospects after vocational training, while others prefer to pursue academic degrees.
- Who
- Chinese university graduates, vocational students, and the government
- What
- Addressing the skills gap and unemployment among university graduates
- When
- Currently, with long-term goals for the future
- Where
- China, particularly in vocational institutions and universities
- Why
- To meet future skill demands, reduce unemployment, and improve the job market
Pro-Vocational Education
Pro-Academic Degrees
Job Prospects
Pro-Vocational Education
Some vocational students are optimistic about their job prospects.
Pro-Academic Degrees
University graduates still enjoy hiring priority.
- Number of vocational students
- Around 34m
- Unemployment rate among 16-24 year-olds (excluding students)
- 17% as of October
- Target number of workers to be upskilled by 2027
- 30m
- New vocational courses created
- 40
- Priority given to university graduates in hiring
- Still in place