By Wendy C. Mateo
China has revealed that it is developing a “comprehensive and well-functioning” job services network aimed at supporting the millions of college graduates who enter the workforce each year.
According to guidelines cited by Xinhua, the system is expected to be established within the next three to five years.
The move is part of China’s efforts to push for high-quality and sufficient employment.
Tackling challenges in the labour market
Under the aforementioned guidelines, authorities are expected to focus on improving key areas such as the higher education training system, career guidance services, and job-market recruitment networks.
They will also enhance support mechanisms for jobseekers, monitoring and evaluation tools, and safeguards for graduate employment.
Moreover, officials will take into account the demand for talent deemed crucial to national strategies when guiding universities in refining their programmes.
Experts from the education sector said it was important for China to identify real societal demand, improve education, and ensure supply-demand balance.
“Only when what we teach matches what society needs will graduates thrive in the job market,” said Kuang Xiaozhen, who serves as director of an employment and entrepreneurship guidance centre in Beijing.
“Industry regulators need to team up with education folks and share data to make the database full and precise,” he added.
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China’s rising graduate numbers
About 12.22 million graduates are set to enter China’s labour race this year – 430,000 more than what was recorded in 2024.
It marks yet another pressure, with China having now welcomed over 10 million new graduates for three straight years.
Authorities have said that the surge in graduates can persist for a decade, mostly driven by the rising availability of higher education in the country.
The increase also comes amid a shift in the job market, with emerging sectors such as new energy vehicles, semiconductors, and green technology outdoing established industries – including internet giants, private tutoring, and real estate – in luring fresh talent.
However, recent data suggests that China could still face a workforce shortage of more than five million in artificial intelligence, 2.3 million in big data, and one million each in new energy vehicles and drone operators for the low-altitude economy.
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Stabilising the economy amid global trade uncertainty
China’s move reflects the efforts of the government to stabilise the domestic economy and uplift market confidence in the context of an uncertain global trade landscape brought on by the reciprocal tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump.
Despite announcing a 90-day pause on a slew of global tariffs on other nations, Trump recently increased levies on China to 145%.
China in turn slapped tariffs of up to 125% on US goods that entered force on Saturday, according to a report from the BBC.
After the latest spat, Beijing’s Ministry of Commerce on Sunday called for Trump to “completely cancel” the tariffs.
“We urge the US to take a big step to correct its mistakes, completely cancel the wrong practice of ‘reciprocal tariffs’, and return to the right path of mutual respect,” it said in a statement.
On Friday, Trump offered a minor reprieve by announcing exemptions on some electronic products, including items produced in China.
While Beijing recognised the exemption as a “small step”, it said it was still evaluating its impact.
However, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the exemption remained temporary.
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Ren Azrack Escosio 
Jheruleene Anne Ramos 
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