For decades, Chinese authorities have tried to establish a dual training system like the European model, but their successes have been limited. When the government mandated that half of all middle school graduates should attend vocational training centers four years ago, many parents were concerned about their children’s future. In China, there is a stigma associated with vocational schools compared to countries like Switzerland, Germany and Austria where vocational training leads to well-paid and respected professions. Most young people aim for universities and office or management jobs to gain prestige.
Despite an increase in the number of university graduates in China in recent years, there is a shortage of well-trained skilled workers, especially in industries such as manufacturing. With the goal of modernizing industry and focusing on high technology, China is working towards creating a skilled workforce in areas like robotics and industrial automation. However, only about 30% of Chinese workers are considered skilled, lagging behind countries like Japan and Germany.
The Chinese government has been attempting to implement a dual training system for over two decades with limited success. While some foreign-funded projects have been successful in training young people in practical skills, there are challenges with standardization, quality and lack of investment in vocational training facilities. Despite efforts to recruit university graduates for skilled worker positions, many graduates struggle to find suitable jobs that match their qualifications.
As China’s universities produce a large number of academics, there is an oversupply of graduates in the job market leading to challenges in securing employment. Many parents are now encouraging postgraduate studies for their children hoping to improve their job prospects. However, the mismatch between the skills acquired in higher education and the demands of the labor market remains a persistent issue.
President Xi Jinping has suggested that young people should move to the countryside to help farmers with their work as a solution to unemployment among academics but this idea has been met with skepticism despite the government’s efforts to address skills gap and unemployment issues; significant challenges remain