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

In 2024, China's labor market faces significant challenges as millions of university graduates enter the job market, middle-aged workers encounter unemployment upon reaching the age of 35, and the elderly approach retirement age without sufficient financial security. The job competition is intense across all demographics [para. 1].

Youth employment remains a critical issue as the National Bureau of Statistics resumed releasing unemployment data for individuals aged 16 to 24 at the beginning of 2024. The revised youth unemployment rate, now excluding students, initially started at 14.9% in December 2023, dipped to 13.2% in June 2024, but rose to 18.8% in August, eventually settling at 16.1% in November [para. 3]. With student enrollment rising, China expects over 10 million fresh graduates annually for the next five years, suggesting ongoing youth employment difficulties [para. 4]. Traditional growth sectors like the internet, education, and real estate are being replaced by emerging industries such as electric vehicles and artificial intelligence, which are still growing and unable to absorb the influx of graduates [para. 5]. As companies focus more on cost-cutting and efficiency, competition for quality jobs sharpens, leading young people to rethink the value of further education [para. 7]. However, the civil service remains an attractive career path, with a significant increase in candidates for the 2025 National Civil Service Exam [para. 8]. In September, China's authorities issued guidelines to align education more closely with labor market demands and emphasized the development of vocational education [para. 9].

For the elderly, China has introduced plans to gradually increase the retirement age, hoping to address the expanding pension gap and declining birth rates by increasing the labor force participation of older individuals. However, questions about job availability, the impact of new technologies, and age discrimination remain unresolved [para. 11][para. 12].

The introduction of new technologies contributes to job market uncertainties. In 2024, Baidu Inc.'s driverless taxi service, Apollo Go, sparked concerns among ride-hailing drivers [para. 13]. Additionally, as intelligent machines increasingly replace human labor and companies move production overseas, China's manufacturing sector leans towards a gig economy model, which necessitates social security system refinements and challenges workers' skills accumulation [para. 14]. New professions linked to digitalization, green technologies, and lifestyle changes are emerging, with 19 new professions gaining official recognition [para. 15], while flexible employment, such as food delivery and courier services, is becoming more socially accepted [para. 16].

Certain demographics remain marginalized, such as China's 300 million migrant workers, 30% of whom are over 50 years old [para. 17]. Many migrants are deterred from moving to larger cities due to high living costs, requiring policy reforms to facilitate their mobility [para. 18]. Unpaid labor, particularly caregiving duties, also needs addressing, as it significantly impacts women and their involvement in the workforce [para. 19].

Ensuring fair employment opportunities, advocating for labor rights, and providing comprehensive employment services remain central challenges across generations and employment categories. The September guidance document from the Central Committee and the State Council stresses the importance of achieving high-quality and sufficient employment as a pillar for economic and social development. The public eagerly anticipates how this vision will materialize in practice [para. 22].