Year in Review (Part 3): How to Make the Future Work for Job Hunters of All Ages

Industries that once provided employment growth — such as the internet, education and real estate — are now giving way to emerging industries that lack the scale to absorb large numbers of graduates.

In 2024, China’s labor market was in a state of flux, as millions of graduates left university in search of careers, middle-aged workers faced unemployment after crossing the 35-year threshold and elderly people reached retirement age without the prospect of stopping work. Across all demographics, the competition for jobs remained fierce.

The young

Youth employment remains a critical concern. After halting the release of surveyed urban unemployment data for those aged 16 to 24 in July 2023, the National Bureau of Statistics resumed reporting pertinent data at the start of 2024.