CCP Universities Encourage Students to Seek Employment in Rural Areas Amid Unemployment Crisis

Chinese universities under CCP control are instructing recent graduates to seek employment in rural regions due to high youth unemployment rates in China.

The public has drawn parallels to Mao’s “sent-down youth” movement, where city students were forcibly relocated to rural areas during his rule.

This year, mainland China is expecting 11.79 million college graduates, a significant increase from the previous year. This surge is likely to intensify job competition. Consequently, colleges and universities are encouraging graduates to explore opportunities in rural areas for poverty relief.

Some institutions, such as Heihe University in Heilongjiang, have released announcements advising graduates to adjust their expectations and consider opportunities in poverty alleviation, agriculture, healthcare, education, or underdeveloped regions like the Western Plan.

Other universities like Fujian Normal University’s School of Economics have issued similar directives, emphasizing the need for graduates to be realistic about the job market and explore various avenues of employment.

Additionally, suggestions include participation in national service projects, military enlistment, or seeking employment in remote areas post-graduation. Various institutions like Zhejiang Sci-Tech University and Hainan Normal University have also echoed similar sentiments through open letters.

High Unemployment Rates

The Chinese economy has been on a decline following strict “zero-COVID” measures that impacted the entire economy negatively.

With youth unemployment reaching record highs, over 11.5 million college graduates faced uncertain prospects last summer. Official CCP figures indicate that 21.3% of urban Chinese youth aged 16 to 24 were unemployed, with some scholars estimating the actual rate to be as high as 46.5%. They predict a prolonged period of high youth unemployment.

To address this situation, CCP authorities have been urging graduates to contribute to poverty alleviation efforts in underdeveloped areas. Provocations were made by several provincial governments in 2023, outlining relocation plans for young people to rural regions over the next three years.

This initiative recalls Mao’s era when millions of students were sent to rural areas as part of education and re-education programs.

Observers note that the current CCP’s strategy under Xi Jinping of relocating youth to rural areas mirrors Mao’s tactics. This approach appears to be a response to economic challenges and high youth unemployment rates, potentially luring young people to rural areas as a solution to the regime’s employment crisis.

Fang Xiao contributed to this report.