"If I don't leave now, everything will only become more difficult," said Bo, 25, a human resources officer at a state agency in Beijing.
At Bo's workplace, recruitment opportunities are shrinking rapidly. In 2022, 400 applications competed for 15 positions with monthly salaries ranging from 400-700 USD. By 2023, the competition intensified: 1,000 applicants vied for 8 spots.
"Young people today have only three choices: lie flat and accept their fate, engage in exhausting competition, or leave. I chose the last option," the young man stated.
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A young Chinese person holds a sign seeking employment on a street in Sydney, Australia, on 14/11/2025. *Think China* |
With youth unemployment around 17%, the post-2000 generation, like Bo, is fueling a new wave of labor migration, following in the footsteps of the elite seeking opportunities abroad. However, unlike previous generations, they are not leaving for enjoyment but for survival.
Yong Haonan, 18, a student abroad, has capitalized on this trend. Last year, Yong posted videos detailing pathways for working and immigrating abroad by country, attracting nearly 30,000 followers in a few months. Concurrently, he established online discussion groups, gathering almost 4,000 members since their launch in 9/2025.
Those seeking Yong's advice are diverse: from students at the prestigious Peking University to IT professionals over 30 who recently lost their jobs. Their commonality is a readiness to accept roles as welders or plumbers, provided it means going abroad.
Yet, the "promised land" is no longer rosy. Guan, 28, left China after submitting 300 unsuccessful applications domestically. He went to Indonesia for a finance job, then moved to Congo. In Africa, he worked while battling malaria.
"Ten years ago, earning over 140,000 USD annually in Africa was normal. Now, countless people compete for jobs paying 20,000 USD," Guan bitterly admitted. The influx of workers has driven down overseas salary standards. Despite this, Guan persists to save capital, hoping to settle in Germany.
Associate Professor Fu Fangjian of Singapore Management University views this phenomenon more positively. He believes the feeling of helplessness among young people is a global occurrence. Not only in China but also young Americans face significant job pressure.
"When domestic competition becomes too fierce, changing environments can be a reasonable option," the expert said. "A person who moves lives, a tree that moves dies. Humans are more adaptable than plants."
Fu added that Chinese trade is now present in over 190 countries, and if young people follow a global outreach strategy, accepting risks could open opportunities for a better future.
By Ngoc Ngan (According to Think China)
