Highly educated people are pouring into the food delivery industry. What’s the problem there?

Summary

The video highlights the struggles of highly educated Chinese individuals who are forced to work in the food delivery industry due to economic challenges and job scarcity. It sheds light on various issues within the industry, such as poor hygiene, exploitation, and harsh working conditions. The narrative is supported by real-life incidents, including food contamination, and testimonials from graduates who have taken up delivery jobs. The video underscores the economic decline, high unemployment rates, and the tough reality faced by many in China today.

Takeaways

• 🎓 The speaker, Leang Ding, is a highly educated individual with degrees from G University and Renman University of China, yet has to work in the food delivery industry, reflecting a trend among the educated in China.
• 🐭 Food safety is a significant concern in China's food delivery industry, with incidents such as finding a mouse head in a meal and a customer consuming an entire rat in their order.
• 🍽️ Hygiene issues are prevalent, with a video showing a chef using a broom to clean kitchen walls while preparing food for delivery.
• 📚 The food delivery workforce in China includes a significant number of highly educated individuals, with 7 million delivery workers, 1% of whom hold master's or doctoral degrees.
• 📉 China's economic downturn has led to job losses and an increase in the number of unemployed or underemployed individuals, including those with higher education, turning to food delivery as a means of employment.
• 📈 The number of college graduates in China is expected to reach 1.79 million in 2024, with a high youth unemployment rate, indicating a challenging job market for new graduates.
• 🏙️ The collapse of industries such as real estate has led to widespread layoffs, pushing more people into the already saturated food delivery industry.
• 🚫 Despite the large number of people joining the food delivery industry, there are reports of layoffs and wage compression due to industry saturation and reduced delivery fees.
• 🚦 Delivery workers face harsh working conditions, including fines for late deliveries and the need to navigate traffic and weather challenges.
• 🤰 Even pregnant women are joining the food delivery workforce, highlighting the dire economic circumstances and the need for flexible employment options.
• 📊 A survey report indicates that Chinese food delivery riders work long hours, with many working seven days a week and facing penalties for negative reviews, showcasing the demanding nature of the job.

Q & A

What is the educational background of the speaker, Leang Ding, mentioned in the video script?

Leang Ding is a graduate from G University Law School with an undergraduate degree and also holds a master's degree certificate from Renman University of China, along with professional qualification certificates from the judicial examination.

What issue in the food delivery industry was highlighted on June 1st, 2023?

On June 1st, 2023, a student at Jangi Industrial Vocational and Technical College found a mouse head in his meal in the cafeteria, which caused an uproar on the internet.

What shocking incident occurred on July 4th, 2024, involving a food delivery order?

On July 4th, 2024, a person from Changdu Shishan Province ordered Matan takeout and reportedly ate an entire rat that was in the meal.

What hygiene issue was captured in a video in September 2023 related to the food delivery industry?

In September 2023, a video was captured showing a chef using a broom dipped in water from a cooking pot to clean the kitchen walls, with the takeaway packaged for delivery on the table.

What was the surprising discovery made by a delivery man named Chen at Chong Chang Malatang Restaurant in Guangdong in July 2018?

Chen discovered the owner's son sitting on a chair, playing with his mobile phone and stepping on a pot of meatballs with his feet for about 15 minutes.

According to the video script, what percentage of food delivery workers in China have a master's degree or higher?

According to the script, 1% of food delivery workers in China have a master's degree or higher.

What challenges are faced by the food delivery industry in China as mentioned in the script?

The script mentions challenges such as hygiene issues, saturation of the industry with an influx of highly educated individuals, layoffs, reduced delivery fees, and intense competition.

What was the reported urban unemployment rate among young people aged 16 to 24 in China in 2023?

The reported urban unemployment rate among young people aged 16 to 24 in China in 2023 was as high as 21.3%.

What is the average number of days and hours worked per week by Chinese food delivery riders according to the survey report mentioned in the script?

According to the survey report, Chinese food delivery riders work an average of 6.4 days a week and 9.8 hours a day.

What are the penalties for delivery riders who receive a negative review according to the script?

The penalties for delivery riders who receive a negative review range from $27.50 to $69, with the general fine being $69.

What is the situation regarding delivery fees for food delivery riders as described in the script?

The script describes a situation where delivery fees have been greatly reduced, with many orders appearing on the platform for as low as 40 cents, and a significant drop in delivery fees, entering an era of 40-cent fees.