Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A record 12.7 million university students in China are about to enter the workforce, putting an already strained job market under unprecedented pressure.
Click here to subscribe to our channel 👉🏽 bbc.in/3VyyriM
China’s youth unemployment rate has been relatively high, hovering around 15%, but the growing challenge of AI has some analysts forecasting a youth jobless spike.
Artificial intelligence is starting to replace an entire layer of entry-level positions that have traditionally been the starting point for fresh graduates.
China, one of the world's fastest adopters of AI, is feeling the impact. So what can China's government and its young jobseekers do to navigate the labour market?
On this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko Oi is joined by journalist Chen Yan from BBC Chinese Service and economics professor Shen Kailing from the Australian National University.
00:00 Introduction
00:57 What’s happening with China’s youth unemployment?
03:04 Impact of China’s shrinking population
03:58 How bad is China’s youth unemployment today?
06:08 Are young people frustrated?
06:58 China during the 2008 financial crisis
08:43 How are young people coping?
10:23 Does China’s high tech adoption set it apart from other countries?
12:55 Why is the Chinese economy more flexible than others?
14:10 Impact of AI on the job market
16:39 Are there entry-level employees?
18:23 What will China do about youth unemployment?
Watch more episodes of Asia Specific here 👉🏽 youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz_B0PFGIn4c3njIxB0KHuO8SS2mBMtUc
Instagram: @bbcworldservice
Email: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk
Presenter: Mariko Oi
Producers: Derek Cai, Rachel Lee, Cordelia Lee
Camera: Muhammad Firdaus Bin Mohd Ansary, Rosalehin Bin Rosli
Editor: Bill Birtles
----------------
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A record 12.7 million university students in China are about to enter the workforce, putting an already strained job market under unprecedented pressure.
Click here to subscribe to our channel 👉🏽 bbc.in/3VyyriM
China’s youth unemployment rate has been relatively high, hovering around 15%, but the growing challenge of AI has some analysts forecasting a youth jobless spike.
Artificial intelligence is starting to replace an entire layer of entry-level positions that have traditionally been the starting point for fresh graduates.
China, one of the world's fastest adopters of AI, is feeling the impact. So what can China's government and its young jobseekers do to navigate the labour market?
On this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko Oi is joined by journalist Chen Yan from BBC Chinese Service and economics professor Shen Kailing from the Australian National University.
00:00 Introduction
00:57 What’s happening with China’s youth unemployment?
03:04 Impact of China’s shrinking population
03:58 How bad is China’s youth unemployment today?
06:08 Are young people frustrated?
06:58 China during the 2008 financial crisis
08:43 How are young people coping?
10:23 Does China’s high tech adoption set it apart from other countries?
12:55 Why is the Chinese economy more flexible than others?
14:10 Impact of AI on the job market
16:39 Are there entry-level employees?
18:23 What will China do about youth unemployment?
Watch more episodes of Asia Specific here 👉🏽 youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz_B0PFGIn4c3njIxB0KHuO8SS2mBMtUc
Instagram: @bbcworldservice
Email: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk
Presenter: Mariko Oi
Producers: Derek Cai, Rachel Lee, Cordelia Lee
Camera: Muhammad Firdaus Bin Mohd Ansary, Rosalehin Bin Rosli
Editor: Bill Birtles
----------------
This is the official BBC World Service YouTube channel.
If you like what we do, you can also find us here:
Instagram 👉🏽 instagram.com/bbcworldservice
Twitter 👉🏽 twitter.com/bbcworldservice
Facebook 👉🏽 facebook.com/bbcworldservice
BBC World Service website 👉🏽 bbc.co.uk/worldserviceradio
Thanks for watching and subscribing!
#BBCWorldService #WorldService
