Summary of the Core Content
The social sentiment triggered by the death of Zhang Xuefeng essentially reflects the collective anxiety among young people regarding the failure of the traditional path: “education → stable career → good life.” Behind this lies a multitude of transformations, including a slowdown in economic growth, the impact of AI technology, and a disconnect between the education system and the labor market, making the once-reliable path to success based on academic qualifications less dependable. The article calls for institutional reforms (such as providing free AI education, transforming vocational education, and involving enterprises in talent development) to make ability, rather than just educational credentials, the core criterion for employment, in order to address the concerns of young people.
1. The Economy Has Slowed Down, and Young People’s Dream of “Hard Work Leading to Stability” Has Crumbled
In times of rapid economic growth, “studying more and obtaining higher qualifications” was a surefire investment—even if one couldn’t find a job immediately, the expanding economy would eventually create new opportunities. However, as the economy shifts from a period of rapid expansion to one of focused development, the number of job openings is not keeping up with the increase in graduates (12.7 million graduates expected by 2026), and the demand for hiring from companies is declining: in 2019, 80% of graduates found jobs, but by 2025, only 47.7% did, with flexible employment accounting for one-third of all jobs. More critically, the number of “stable jobs” that young people desire is decreasing. The promise of “hard work → qualifications → stability” no longer holds true, leaving many feeling anxious.
2. AI Has Taken Away White-Collar Jobs That Require Basic Skills
AI does not first target manual labor but directly targets the initial jobs of college graduates—tasks such as writing, translation, basic programming, and data analysis, which AI can now perform quickly and efficiently. In the past, new employees would start with these entry-level tasks to gain experience; now, companies use AI to replace them, leaving newcomers with no chance to develop their skills. Moreover, AI is also reducing the scope of human work: whereas before people used tools, now systems are more capable, forcing young people to compete directly with machines, making the traditional path of “getting a job first and then learning” obsolete.
3. Academic Credentials Are No Longer a Guarantee of Success; Companies Are Starting to Look Beyond Universities for Talent
In the past, companies relied on qualifications to select candidates, but they have realized that “education does not equal ability.” A well-known university graduate may not be competent for a particular job, while some high school graduates with practical skills might be more suitable. For example, Geely directly hires high school graduates and allows them to learn while working in real industrial settings; Tencent and ByteDance do not consider the institution of education but focus on project experience when hiring. By doing so, companies believe that training employees in-house is more reliable than waiting for them to graduate from university.
4. Vocational Education Is No Longer a Last-Resort Option but Has Become Highly Valued
Vocational education was once seen as a backup option for those with poor academic performance, but now the situation has reversed. Shenzhen Polytechnic University is collaborating with companies like Huawei and BYD to offer programs in much-needed fields such as AI and intelligent manufacturing, ensuring that graduates are ready for immediate employment. They have even established “Future Technology Colleges” to train individuals for entrepreneurship in new industries. Companies prefer vocational education graduates because they possess practical skills and do not require additional training. Vocational bachelor’s degrees are no longer considered inferior; instead, they focus on developing specific abilities rather than abstract theories.
5. Using AI and Policy to Rebalance Opportunities and Ensure Fairness
AI can help reduce the gap in opportunities. If the government provides free AI training (e.g., teaching how to use ChatGPT for writing reports or data analysis), ordinary people can acquire new skills without relying on expensive courses or prestigious universities. Government policies should also support small businesses and freelancers, allowing capable individuals to find employment independently. Companies should change their hiring criteria to focus on ability rather than just academic qualifications, turning production workshops into learning environments where skilled individuals can start working immediately.
In Conclusion: The death of Zhang Xuefeng is not a personal tragedy but a reminder that the old rules of education and employment no longer fit the needs of the new era. Only by making ability the core standard can we give young people hope—a much more effective approach than simply telling them to avoid anxiety.