The Chinese Ministry of Education is encouraging the country's universities to offer courses dedicated to AI. — AFP Relaxnews
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, China has faced a major challenge, with youth unemployment reaching worrying levels. Despite an increasing number of graduates, many are struggling to find a job that matches their qualifications. To remedy this, Beijing is looking to artificial intelligence to promote their integration into the job market.
The rise of artificial intelligence in the world of work is causing as much concern as it is enthusiasm. While some see the technology as a threat to employment, others see it as an unprecedented opportunity. By automating repetitive tasks, AI frees up time for more strategic and creative endeavors. In China, the authorities see it primarily as a temporary solution to ease the pressure on a labor market in crisis. Youth unemployment remains high, despite a slight improvement, after reaching 21.3% in June 2023.
To reverse the trend, the Ministry of Education is encouraging universities to offer training courses dedicated to AI and to develop vocational courses. According to a directive reported by Bloomberg, higher education institutions will have to create 1,000 micro majors and the same number of training courses in partnership with companies in order to improve the employability of young graduates.
At the same time, the government is investing in projects related to artificial intelligence and deploying specialized training courses to prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow.
A generation facing an employment crisis
This approach could profoundly reshape the Chinese labour market, as the country prepares to reach a record number of graduates. In 2025, Beijing expects 12.22 million students to graduate, an unprecedented figure according to Bloomberg. Yet many of them struggle to find a job that matches their skills.
Some young people from more comfortable backgrounds prefer to stay at home with their parents, being supported in exchange for services, while waiting for a professional opportunity that suits them. Others take stop-gap jobs, like as delivery drivers for online shopping platforms or meal delivery services, while waiting for better opportunities.
Faced with the difficulties of integrating young people into the labour market, the Chinese authorities are trying to direct them towards sectors in need of workers, such as the restaurant and industrial sectors. But this strategy clashes with the aspirations of a more demanding generation, seeking careers in line with their skills and expectations.
To contain the rise in unemployment, Beijing is also putting pressure on higher education. Universities are increasingly encouraging students to pursue postgraduate studies, thus delaying their entry into the labor market, according to the Singaporean daily Lianhe Zaobao. Officially, this policy aims to train high-level talent to support the country's development. But for many observers, it mainly responds to more pragmatic imperatives: temporarily relieving the labour market, generating income through tuition fees (universities in China are fee-paying) and limiting social tensions.
By focusing on artificial intelligence and extending the duration of studies, the Chinese government hopes to cushion the blow of a generation in turmoil facing significant difficulties in entering the job market. It remains to be seen whether these measures will be enough to resolve a crisis which, beyond the figures, reveals a profound gap between the aspirations of young people and the reality of the Chinese job market. – AFP Relaxnews
