Thất nghiệp kéo dài tại Trung Quốc khiến người trẻ mất phương hướng: Cuộc sống tạm bợ và tuyệt vọng

Summary

The transcript highlights the severe economic struggles in China, exacerbated by the US-China trade war, leading to widespread unemployment and business closures. It includes personal accounts from individuals experiencing job loss, the challenges of maintaining small businesses, and the difficulty of finding new employment. Several people reflect on their shattered hopes after years of education and hard work, facing financial insecurity and a shrinking job market. The narrative paints a picture of frustration, uncertainty, and the harsh reality of China's current economic climate.

Takeaways

• 😀 Many businesses in China, especially in cities like Guangzhou and Shenzhen, are facing unprecedented challenges due to the ongoing US-China trade war, leading to halted operations, layoffs, and widespread closures.
• 😀 High levels of unemployment are exacerbating the situation, with an estimated 30 million people in China currently unemployed, and fresh graduates struggling to find jobs with low employment rates.
• 😀 Individuals who have invested in small businesses, like grocery stores, are facing severe financial struggles due to a downturn in consumer demand and the difficulty of sustaining high rental costs.
• 😀 The situation is especially dire for those in state-owned enterprises and government positions, as many have not received wages for months, and job security is a growing concern.
• 😀 There is increasing difficulty for individuals with aging populations and a lack of job opportunities to adapt, especially for those in sectors like human resources, which are easy to replace.
• 😀 The cost of operating small businesses has increased dramatically, with the cost of renting stalls or retail spaces in markets in certain areas of China reaching millions of yuan annually, making low-cost startups unsustainable.
• 😀 Individuals in cities like Shenzhen are exploring alternative job options, including selling food, but find the entrepreneurial landscape to be highly competitive and difficult to navigate.
• 😀 There is a growing sense of hopelessness, with many graduates and workers expressing frustration over being unable to find stable employment, and some even resorting to living in extreme conditions due to financial strain.
• 😀 Despite some efforts to secure work or entrepreneurial ventures, individuals are often met with obstacles such as strict regulations, competition, or a lack of resources to get started.
• 😀 The overall economic outlook is bleak, with many industries, especially manufacturing, grappling with a lack of orders, resulting in closures and layoffs in multiple sectors due to the effects of global trade tensions.

Q & A

What impact has the ongoing US-China trade war had on businesses in China?

The trade war has significantly affected businesses in China, particularly those involved in international trade. Companies have faced challenges such as reduced orders from abroad and increased operational costs due to tariffs. Some businesses have had to shut down or scale back operations, leading to widespread layoffs and growing unemployment.

How are companies in major Chinese cities, like Guangzhou and Shenzhen, coping with the economic slowdown?

In cities like Guangzhou and Shenzhen, many companies, especially state-owned enterprises and government institutions, have been unable to pay salaries for months. Some businesses have opted for temporary closures or reduced working hours, while others face tough competition in the shrinking market.

What are the personal struggles shared by the narrator about their family business in Guangzhou?

The narrator shares the difficulty of maintaining a small grocery store in Guangzhou due to the economic downturn. Despite years of hard work and sacrifices, the family business is struggling with lower sales, making it hard to sustain the annual rent of 285 million VND. This has created a heavy financial burden, impacting their livelihood.

What is the narrator’s perspective on higher education and its usefulness in today’s economic climate?

The narrator expresses disillusionment with the value of higher education. Despite years of study, including university and doctoral education, they feel it has not helped them secure stable employment. The narrator questions the effectiveness of education in providing a brighter future, given the high unemployment rate and job market difficulties.

Why does the narrator feel that finding a job has become more difficult, especially for older individuals?

The narrator notes that their age, lack of marriage or children, and background in humanities have made them less desirable to employers. With high labor costs and the expectation that employees may soon start families, employers are reluctant to hire older candidates, which makes job searching even harder.

What alternative paths has the narrator considered to overcome their unemployment?

The narrator has considered starting a small food stall to generate income while continuing to search for a more permanent job. This solution would allow them to stay busy and avoid prolonged periods of anxiety, but they also realize that starting a business requires significant investment and is not as easy as they initially imagined.

What is the current unemployment rate in China, and how does it compare to the real situation?

The official unemployment rate in China is reported at 5.4%, but experts suggest that the actual unemployment rate is much higher. The real employment situation, especially for recent graduates, is much worse, with estimates showing that only 30-35% of new graduates find jobs.

How has the narrator's personal situation changed after graduating from university?

After graduating, the narrator struggled to find stable employment and faced financial setbacks, including being scammed by a recruitment agent and a multi-level marketing scheme. They had to survive by eating discounted food and living in difficult conditions, feeling ashamed of their situation.

What insights does the narrator provide about the current job market in Shenzhen and the competitive nature of the design industry?

The narrator describes a challenging job market in Shenzhen, particularly in the design industry. They mention a job interview where the employer combined three roles (designing, modeling, and rendering) into one position and offered a salary of just 28.5 million VND, which they feel is insufficient considering the level of expertise required.

What are some reasons businesses, particularly factories in Shenzhen, are struggling in the current economic environment?

Factories in Shenzhen are facing numerous challenges, such as high rental costs, overcapacity, reduced international orders, and the increasing cost of tariffs and management. These factors have put immense pressure on businesses, forcing many to close or relocate to Southeast Asia to survive.