Commentary: China’s youth unemployment problem has become a crisis we can no longer ignore

BRILLIANCES IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM

There is a disconnect between school curriculum and work market needs despite the rapid growth of higher education.

Programs frequently prioritize principle over practical abilities, leaving graduates unprepared for the workforce. For instance, engineering students may concentrate on theories and equations but neglect practical applications like internships.

Furthermore, the market is flooded with overqualified applicants, particularly in the engineering, finance, and healthcare industries. This disparity encourages many people to pursue more education.

A remarkable 135 percent increase over the 2.01 million test-takers in 2017 resulted in a full of 4.74 million students taking the graduate entrance exam in 2023. This pattern makes youth poverty and poverty worse.

Effect ON THE WIDER

The youth employment issue in China has a ripple effect that should not be understated. High unemployment rates can cause civil unrest, especially in countries with a sizable adolescent population, according to UNICEF warnings.

The Chinese Communist Party has long upheld its autocratic stance by securing a sociable license based on prosperity and economic stability.

China may undergo a major internal energy shift if rising youth unemployment undermines this license by encouraging political radicalization or disengagement.

For unrest could spill over into international relations in a world that is interconnected worldwide. Particularly among countries with nearby financial ties to China, civil unrest can make a country less firm and thus less appealing to foreign investment.

Given China’s crucial role in global supply stores, such an inner turmoil also poses a threat to destabilize supply chain worldwide.

Domestic strife and social unrest can have an impact on a nation’s foreign relations, as demonstrated by historic examples like the Arab Spring and Brexit.

The Arab Spring resulted in the overthrow of numerous governments, local unrest, an impact on world oil prices, and the need for European nations to reevaluate their overseas policies.

Similar to how Brexit affected international trade agreements, caused democratic restructuring, and forced the European Union to reevaluate its foreign policy as a whole.

Although youth unemployment is a worldwide issue, we cannot afford to ignore it given the scope of the issue in China and its potential wider effects on connected markets.