The Future Appears Bleak and Hopeless, Leading to an Increasing Number of Students Dropping Out

A graduate from a “985” top university breaks down in tears, saying she can’t find a job. (Video screenshot)

[People News] New terms have surfaced on the Chinese internet: "full-time children" and "rotten tail kids." These terms describe young individuals who have dedicated years to their studies but find themselves unable to secure jobs after graduating from university, resulting in idleness at home. This situation is not due to a lack of effort on their part; rather, it stems from the prolonged economic downturn in China, exacerbated by the erratic policies of the Communist Party. Many foreign companies have relocated from China, private enterprises are facing a wave of bankruptcies, and unemployment rates remain high, leaving college graduates with few job opportunities.

Official data indicates that by August 2025, the unemployment rate for urban non-students aged 16 to 24 is projected to reach 18.9%, meaning that nearly one in five young people will be unemployed! The latest estimates from the Ministry of Education of the Communist Party suggest that the number of university graduates in 2026 will hit a record high of 12.7 million, making the job market even more competitive. Many graduates from prestigious universities are finding themselves forced to set up stalls on the streets, earning the label of the "high-knowledge stall group" among netizens. After years of rigorous study from undergraduate to master's and doctoral levels, countless young students are left with no choice but to pursue "flexible employment" options such as food delivery, street vending, and live streaming.

The so-called "flexible employment" touted by officials is essentially a manipulation of statistics. Some schools even require students to create Douyin accounts to falsely inflate their "post-graduation destinations," counting them as employed despite having no actual income!

The economic downturn has led to a significant drop in income for many families, making it increasingly difficult for them to afford their children's education. With graduation often resulting in unemployment, both parents and students are feeling uncertain about their futures. Consequently, the number of college and high school students in China dropping out is on the rise.

As reported by New Tang Dynasty, Mr Chen, who withdrew from college after just one semester, expressed that college graduates are facing immediate unemployment, with available jobs offering only low salaries of a few thousand yuan (RMB) per month. Given the high tuition costs, his parents supported his decision to start a business, and he intends to pursue a career in the internet sector.

Mr Chen stated: "In Guangdong, the tuition for a private undergraduate program is 40,000 yuan (RMB) per year, and monthly living expenses can range from 1,500 to 2,000 or even 3,000, depending on family circumstances. After completing college, one typically needs over 200,000 yuan. My sister graduated a few years ago and still hasn't found a job; she has been unemployed at home. I want to live a life I enjoy, and achieving that through education is very challenging, so I decided to drop out and start a business."

Xiao Li (a pseudonym), a sophomore and the only child in his family, has chosen to drop out to seek employment because his father's income is low and his mother is unemployed, making it impossible for his parents to cover his educational expenses. After the New Year, he plans to leave school. Xiao Li remarked: "The tuition for a year costs several tens of thousands, plus living expenses of 800 a month. I'm being very frugal; I've been eating instant noodles for three semesters. My family wants me to join the army or work, but I actually want to work."

Two years after dropping out of high school, Xiao Yang (pseudonym) shared that her family operates a hair salon, which is currently facing a significant downturn in business. With her parents unable to afford her education, she has moved to Hangzhou to find work. The monthly rent is 2,000 yuan, and she feels anxious about her inability to secure a job. Xiao Yang expressed, 'It's the New Year, and it's time for haircuts, right? But our family’s shop has no customers. My parents are already in debt and can no longer support my schooling. I had to drop out of high school due to depression. My parents don’t provide me with living expenses; I have to rely entirely on myself, and I haven’t found a job yet, which is very challenging.' 

Xiao Zhang (pseudonym), who dropped out of his medical doctoral program, disclosed that he had exposed the unfair hierarchical system within the hospital online, along with the exploitation and bullying faced by graduate students. The school believes he is damaging its reputation and has requested his withdrawal. Xiao Zhang stated, 'In my second year of the doctoral program, I was forced to drop out because I didn’t want to end up like Dr Luo (referring to Luo Shuaiyu) from Hunan. Now, hospitals are only hiring candidates with residency certificates, but since I pursued an academic master's degree, I don’t have one. Companies require social experience, and I truly feel trapped. After leaving school, I can barely manage the rent and can only resort to delivering takeout or scavenging for scraps.' △