China’s job scarcity sees fresh grads shun private sector for stable civil service jobs, as ‘government is too big to fail’
- So-called shang’an mentality is sweeping through China, and it reflects a growing desire to seek more stable – albeit lower-paying – jobs in the public sector
- Skyrocketing living costs and mounting uncertainties have become unbearable for those who desire security, peace of mind and reasonable working hours that the private sector may not offer
This is the fifth in a series of stories on China’s job market, looking at its history, the role of migrant workers, inequality and the future for its graduates entering the workforce.
A gruelling two-month stretch awaits Adam Xu later this year, and he has a stable government job in his crosshairs.
In addition to the classes he is taking as a master’s student in public administration, the 25-year-old has ambitious intentions to set aside at least 12 hours a day to study for the national civil service examination that will take place in November.
His hope is to return to his hometown – a second-tier city in southern Guangdong province – for a civil service position.
Xu epitomises the shang’an mentality, which literally means “going onto the shore” and describes a growing desire among young people to take jobs in the public sector. The expression is the opposite of a school of thought popularised by his parents’ generation: xiahai, or “going down to the sea”, referring to a movement during China’s period of reform and opening up that began in the late-1970s, when droves of people quit their government positions to become entrepreneurs and explore a “sea” of business opportunities.
“There is not enough water in the sea now, so who will still xiahai?” Xu posited. “Our generation doesn’t even have a swimming pool.”
