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.
“In the past, employers prioritised academic qualifications, often favouring candidates with a master’s degree for positions that could be adequately filled by those with a bachelor’s degree.
“However, nowadays, practical and technical skills are more valued, the ability to help companies solve problems and generate revenue are more important than academic credentials.”
Fresh graduates have borne the brunt of the shrinking demand as companies increasingly want experienced workers who already have the know-how and can offer practical solutions.
China desperately needs skilled technical workers – but struggles to train them
China desperately needs skilled technical workers – but struggles to train them
A Farmers’ Daily commentary published at the end of last month said the trend of already educated people attending vocational schools aligned with the realistic demands of societal development.
“With the ongoing refinement of social division of labour, numerous new positions and demands have emerged, yet the talents meeting these job requirements have yet to be cultivated,” the commentary said.
“Furthermore, in some emerging industries, such as in the new energy vehicle industry where products and technologies undergo constant iteration and upgrading, certain roles no longer suffice with traditional technical skills, while requiring workers to continuously learn about cutting-edge technologies to meet industry innovation needs.”
There are enough experienced candidates who were laid off, these fresh graduates, lacking experience, are essentially devoid of competitiveness
According to a report published last year by Zhilian Zhaopin on the employment of fresh university graduates, 54.4 per cent of junior college graduates had received job offers by mid-April – close to the end of the spring hiring season – compared to 47.5 per cent who had obtained an undergraduate degree.
A growing portion of graduates have said they would opt for more advanced degrees and further studies, delaying their entry into the job market, with vocational schools offering an alternative but non-mainstream option.
“The trend reflects that our undergraduate education has not kept pace with the times, and is divorced from the market,” said Wang Dan, chief economist at Hang Seng Bank China.
“There are enough experienced candidates who were laid off, these fresh graduates, lacking experience, are essentially devoid of competitiveness.”
