Hello! I'm your financial news analysis assistant. This article from "Sanmao's Stories" captures a very subtle and profound change in China's current job market and education system.
To help you understand this more easily, I'll first summarize the key points in plain language and then break down the logic behind it from five different perspectives.
📌 Summary of Key Points
In one sentence:
Young people today find it difficult to find suitable jobs with just a bachelor's degree, while companies are in urgent need of skilled workers with practical experience. As a result, a new phenomenon has emerged: undergraduates are voluntarily returning to technical schools to learn practical skills, such as numerical control machining.
The main idea:
This is not about the devaluation of degrees or the uselessness of education, but rather a mismatch between the supply of education and the demand of the market. A bachelor's degree provides you with the "knowledge" and thinking skills, but not the practical abilities. Going to a technical school is not a downgrade; it's about filling a gap and turning what might be considered a "semi-finished product" into a "finished product." Society's mindset needs to shift from emphasizing degrees to emphasizing abilities and practical skills.
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🔍 In-depth Analysis: Five Aspects
1. Mismatch between Supply and Demand: Why is there a surplus of people with degrees and a shortage of skilled workers?
The article uses a vivid metaphor: "In a market, there are too many buyers, but not enough sellers."
- The current situation: The class of 2026 is expected to graduate with 12.7 million degrees, a record high. Everyone has a bachelor's degree and is competing for traditional white-collar jobs (administrative, clerical, junior management).
- The gap: However, there is a severe shortage of skilled workers in manufacturing, such as in numerical control, mold making, and welding, with a gap of 50 million people. The job turnover rate (the number of applicants per position) is often above 2, meaning companies have to choose from multiple candidates or even cannot find the right person.
- Where's the mismatch? Universities focus on theory, while companies need practical skills. Data shows that 83.5% of employers hope that liberal arts graduates have some knowledge of data analysis and interdisciplinary skills, but only 21.7% of graduates meet these criteria. This 60% gap is the reason why many young people are unemployed and companies are struggling to find staff.
- In plain language: It's like schools producing secretaries who can only make PPTs, while factories need engineers who can repair precision equipment. When the product doesn't match the demand, it can't be sold.
2. The Decline of the Degree as a Guarantee: Degrees are no longer a surefire ticket to employment
Many say this is a sign of degree devaluation, but it's more accurate to say that the degree's screening power has weakened.
- In the past: A bachelor's degree was a guarantee of higher education and good cognitive abilities. It made you stand out among others.
- Now: With widespread higher education, everyone has a degree, so it no longer distinguishes the best candidates.
- Companies' practical approach: Employers realize that although undergraduates have a strong theoretical foundation, they often lack practical skills. Managers say that undergraduates can reach the level of on-site engineers or senior technicians after two to three years of training at a technical school, while it might take ordinary technical school students ten years.
- In plain language: Going to a technical school is not about lowering one's value; it's about combining a bachelor's degree with practical skills, which can significantly accelerate one's development.
3. The "Lagging Effect" of the Education System: The foundation is not solid enough
The article mentions a painful example: "You spend hundreds of thousands on renovating a house, only to find out the foundation is weak and needs to be rebuilt."
- The problem: Our education system has long focused on preparing students for exams, not on practical skills. It's designed for selection and stratification, not for practical ability development.
- Historical context: In the past, rapid economic growth created a demand for highly educated workers. Now, with quality-oriented development, companies need skilled workers, and the curriculum often lags behind industry needs.
- In plain language: Schools are still teaching knowledge from decades ago, while industries are using the latest technologies. Students graduate without the skills needed for their jobs.
4. Changing Attitudes: The old stereotypes are breaking down
The phrase "Kong Yiji taking off his long gown" (referring to a outdated social norm) is relevant here.
- Old stereotypes: Society used to view blue-collar work as inferior to white-collar work and skills as less valuable. Technical schools were once mocked. Now, in manufacturing areas, skilled workers earn as much as middle managers.
- New reality: In Zhejiang, the employment rate for technical school graduates exceeds 98% for five years in a row, and some majors even receive subsidies.
- Changing attitudes: Graduates from technical schools are not seen as inferior; they are seen as valuable contributors to society.
- In plain language: Working with precision machinery is as valuable as working in an office. Society's values and parents' expectations are gradually catching up with market realities.
5. The Value of a Bachelor's Degree: Not a Backtrack, but a Path Forward
Finally, we need to address the question: "What's the point of going to a technical school after getting a bachelor's degree?"
- Parents' concerns: They might wonder if their investment in education was wasted.
- The truth: A bachelor's degree provides knowledge, learning skills, and a way of thinking. These are valuable assets that don't disappear just because the major doesn't match the job.
- Skills as a Path: Technical training helps convert knowledge into practical abilities, creating well-rounded talents.
- Reflection: The real question is why we rely on a lengthy retraining process. Why can't we integrate these skills into the university education system from the start?
- In plain language: A bachelor's degree gives you the foundation, and technical school training gives you the practical skills. Together, you become a competitive worker with both theoretical and practical knowledge.
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💡 Lessons for Everyone
1. Don't be trapped by your degree: If your major is not in demand, use your learning skills to acquire practical skills (programming, data analysis, manufacturing, etc.).
2. Focus on scarcity: Look for jobs with high job turnover rates; these often offer better salaries and opportunities for growth.
3. Adjust your mindset: Both parents and students should realize that the workplace values practical abilities, not just degrees.
4. Embrace change: Skills are becoming the new currency in the job market.
This article calls for a more practical and flexible approach to education and employment. In this fast-changing world, "lifelong learning" and continuous skill development are more important than a single degree.