China's younger generation unemployment rate in May over 20% - Voices of anxiety from students

 Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

中国 若い世代 5月の失業率20％超に 学生たちから不安の声

2023年6月17日 20時49分

中国では景気回復の勢いが鈍くなり若い世代の失業率が最も高い水準となっている中、大学の卒業シーズンを迎え、各地で開かれている就職面接会では参加した学生から相次いで不安の声が聞かれました。

中国では景気回復の勢いが鈍くなる中、5月の都市部の16歳から24歳までの失業率が20.8％と同じ形式で統計が公表されている2018年以降、最も高い水準で若い世代を中心に就職や雇用への不安も広がっています。

6月、大学の卒業シーズンを迎えていて卒業生は大学院なども含め過去最多の1100万人余りに上るとされていますが、各地の大学では就職先が決まらない学生のための就職面接会が開かれています。

南部の広東省広州の大学では17日、地元の企業を中心におよそ100社がブースを設け、多くの学生が面接に訪れていました。

理系の学部の男子学生は「景気が悪く職探しが難しい。多くの企業が人員削減していて採用に積極的でないと感じる」と話していました。

金融学を専攻する女子学生は「企業側から返答がないことが多く難しさを感じる。就職先が見つからなければインターンができる企業だけでも探したい」と話していました。

中国では、若者の高学歴化が進む一方で製造業の現場などでは人手不足が生じていると指摘されていて、雇用のミスマッチをどう解消するかが課題となっています。

Translation

In China, where the economic recovery was slowing and the unemployment rate among the young generation was at its highest level as the university graduation season approaches, while students were participated in job interviews held all over the country, the voices in expressing concerns could be heard one after another.

While China's economic recovery had slowed, the unemployment rate for 16- to 24-year-olds in urban areas in May was 20.8%, it was the highest level since 2018 when statistics were released in the same format, and anxiety about finding a job and employment was also spreading.

In June, as the university graduation season was approaching, the number of graduates including those from graduate schools, was said to have reach a record high of over 11 million. Universities around the country held job interviews for students who were unable to find a job.

On the 17th, about 100 companies, mainly local companies, set up booths at a university in Guangzhou of Guangdong Province in the south, and many students visited for interviews.

A male student majoring in science said, "It's difficult to find a job due to the bad economy. I feel that many companies are cutting staff and not actively recruiting."

A female student majoring in finance said, "I often get no response from companies and find it difficult. If I can't find a job, I want to find a company where I can do an internship."

In China, it had been pointed out that while the educational attainment of young people was increasing, labor shortages were occurring at manufacturing sites, etc., and how to resolve the employment mismatch had become an issue.

In China, some university graduates find it difficult to get an ideal job. It has been pointed out that while the educational attainment of young people is increasing, labor shortages are occurring at manufacturing sites, etc. There is an employment mismatch that has to be dealt with urgently.