Recently, China’s gas company recruitment for meter readers has sparked controversy as graduates from prestigious overseas universities and a bachelor’s degree holder from Peking University have been nominated as candidates. There are concerns about ‘parachute’ hiring, where individuals are employed and then have their positions changed to provide benefits, as well as worries regarding the reality that even graduates from domestic and international prestigious universities find it difficult to secure stable jobs, leading them to compete for simple functions that are entirely unrelated to their majors.
According to a report on the 10th by the local Chinese media Jiupai News, Sichuan Province’s state-owned enterprise Hualunxinglu Gas Co., Ltd. recently revealed plans to hire highly educated applicants for local gas inspection and maintenance personnel. The job announcement, made public on May 22, stipulates that individuals with a college degree or higher and under 45 years old can apply without any restrictions on their majors, prioritizing those with gas industry-related certifications and experience. The workplace is specified to be rural business locations, with the potential for poor working conditions.
Subsequently, on the 9th, the company disclosed three candidates, whose educational backgrounds and ages were a bachelor’s degree in art design from Sichuan Normal University (39 years old), a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Edinburgh in the UK (24 years old), and a bachelor’s degree in international economics and trade from Peking University (41 years old). With a graduate from one of China’s top prestigious universities, Peking University, and a master’s degree holder from a university in the UK included among the candidates, controversy arose regarding the direct relevance of these highly educated applicants' liberal arts majors to the position.
There are doubts circulating about whether they hold gas industry-related certifications, leading some to question whether this is ‘parachute hiring.’ This gas company is known to be a state-owned enterprise, which typically offers relatively stable employment conditions. Consequently, claims emerged suggesting that the company intends to hire these individuals as meter readers and then provide benefits by changing their positions. Jiupai News reported that the company refuted the allegations, stating that the recruitment process was lawful. The company did not restrict majors for applicants, allowing a variety of applicants to be considered, and they must pass related certification exams to achieve final acceptance.
This controversy highlights the fundamental issue of academic inflation resulting from imbalances in the job market. Highly talented individuals graduating from prestigious universities flood the market each year, but there are insufficient quality jobs available for them, forcing them to compete for simple functional positions. Particularly in this case, it is analyzed that highly educated individuals may have developed an interest in the job due to the stability of state-owned enterprises, the possibility of transitioning to full-time employment, and opportunities for internal promotions, even if it means not being able to utilize their majors. Applying for a gas meter reader position might be a strategic choice to secure employment stability amidst the dire job market.
Reactions were mixed on Chinese social media platforms like Xiaohongshu and Weibo. Concerns were raised with criticisms such as, “The mission of Peking University is not to read meter numbers,” and “A waste of national resources.” Additionally, it was noted that the phenomenon of academic inflation is not a recent issue and has been deepening over recent years, emphasizing the need to enhance job selection freedom and the diversity of the labor market. Users commented, “Not everyone becomes successful in their 40s. A meter reader can also be a Peking University graduate,” “I graduated from graduate school and now work at a milk tea shop. My body is tired, but my mind is at ease,” and “As one reaches middle age, the pressure to survive increases. Even if it’s a job unrelated to my major, I have no choice but to do it to survive.”
That day on Weibo, the hashtag ‘#You majored in design, right? How about working at a counter?’ rapidly circulated. This meme satirizes the reality that despite having studied design in university, severe job shortages force individuals to consider work in unrelated simple service positions. Variations of this meme have emerged, such as ‘#You majored in finance, right? How about counting money at the bank window?’ and ‘#You majored in computer engineering, right? How about installing company printers?’ which are frequently cited on social media.
In China, over 10 million university graduates enter the job market every year. However, due to economic recession and rising trade tensions, corporations are reducing hiring, leaving a gaping shortage of jobs for these graduates. The Chinese government ceased publication of youth unemployment rates after it recorded a historic high of over 20% in June 2023, subsequently starting to report a new youth unemployment rate excluding students beginning in December of the same year.
According to National Bureau of Statistics of China, the urban youth unemployment rate for those aged 16 to 24, excluding students, was 15.8% as of April. This figure is more than three times the overall unemployment rate of 5.1% in China. Meanwhile, this summer, a record number of 12.22 million graduates will enter the job market.