Can China’s College Grads Find Peace on the Factory Floor?

Once the reserve of blue-collar workers, the manufacturing industry has emerged as an increasingly appealing career option for educated young people in China, including those from top universities. 

Applications from fresh graduates for mechanical or manufacturing jobs surged by 104% in 2023 compared with 2021, while interest in roles related to IT, the internet, and gaming fell by almost 33% from Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s Employment Quality Report shows that nearly 17% of its Class of 2023 entered the manufacturing sector, making it the second-largest employment destination after IT and software services. The proportion of undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral graduates joining manufacturing industries all increased compared with 2022.ver the same period, according to data from online recruitment platforms Zhilian Zhaopin and Liepin.

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