China Technical Schools Expand Graduate Programs to 45 as Jobless Degree Holders Seek Practical Skills
Updated
Updated · South China Morning Post · Jul 6
China Technical Schools Expand Graduate Programs to 45 as Jobless Degree Holders Seek Practical Skills
1 articles · Updated · South China Morning Post · Jul 6
Summary
Forty-five Chinese technical schools offered formal programs for university graduates in 2025, up from 26 in 2023, as more jobless degree holders turn to vocational retraining.
A 2024 Zhaopin survey found 52.2% of graduates believed returning to technical school would improve their job prospects, reflecting pressure from a weak labor market.
The shift is being driven in part by the property slump and employers' demand for experience; civil engineering graduate Zhou Jingbo enrolled in electrical automation after failing to land an interior design job.
Chinese media reports say the retraining boom offers hope but also disappointment, with some graduates finding the education at technical schools falls short of expectations.