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.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 The Reality of Highly Educated Food Delivery Workers

This paragraph discusses the plight of highly educated individuals in China who, due to economic downturn and limited job opportunities, have resorted to working in the food delivery industry, which is traditionally not considered a respectable job. Despite having various degrees and professional qualifications, including law and master's degrees from prestigious universities, these individuals face the harsh reality of unemployment and underemployment. The script mentions several incidents highlighting the poor hygiene and shocking conditions in the food delivery industry, which has seen an influx of educated workers, including those with master's and doctorate degrees, due to the closure of companies and a struggling job market. The paragraph also touches on the psychological impact of this situation on the individuals involved and the broader implications for society.

05:01

🚴‍♂️ The Challenges and Struggles of Food Delivery Riders

The second paragraph delves into the personal stories and challenges faced by food delivery riders in China. It begins with individuals sharing their educational backgrounds and current roles as delivery workers, highlighting the stark contrast between their qualifications and the jobs they have taken up. The script describes the difficult working conditions, including long hours, harsh weather, and the constant threat of fines for late deliveries. It also discusses the industry's saturation, with many new entrants leading to layoffs and wage compression. The paragraph includes accounts of delivery workers facing extreme circumstances, such as a pregnant woman continuing to work and a teacher supplementing his income by delivering food. The narrative underscores the precarious nature of the job and the broader economic challenges affecting the workforce.

10:01

🏗️ The Impact of Economic Shifts on Delivery Workers

This paragraph examines the broader economic context affecting the food delivery industry in China. It discusses the high youth unemployment rate, the collapse of the real estate industry, and the subsequent drop in related employment sectors. The script highlights the influx of people into the food delivery industry, leading to an oversaturated market with intense competition and layoffs. It also details the working conditions of delivery workers, including the long hours, the requirement for timely deliveries regardless of weather conditions, and the penalties for negative reviews. The paragraph concludes with a survey report that provides statistical insights into the working patterns and challenges faced by Chinese food delivery riders, painting a picture of the industry's demanding and often harsh realities.

Keywords

💡Food Delivery Industry

The food delivery industry involves the business of transporting food orders from restaurants to customers. In the video, it is highlighted as a growing sector in China that has seen an influx of highly educated individuals due to economic downturns and job scarcity in other fields. The script mentions the industry's dark side, such as hygiene issues and the challenges faced by delivery workers.

💡Highly Educated Chinese Talents

Highly educated Chinese talents refer to individuals with advanced degrees such as masters or PhDs. The video discusses the phenomenon of these individuals working in the food delivery industry, which is traditionally not considered a respectable job in China, due to the lack of opportunities in their fields of study.

💡Economic Recession

Economic recession is a period of temporary economic decline during which trade and industrial activity are reduced. The script connects the increase in the number of delivery workers, including those with high levels of education, to the current economic recession in China, which has led to job losses and fewer opportunities in other sectors.

💡Hygiene Issues

Hygiene issues refer to problems related to cleanliness and health standards. The video script provides examples of unsanitary practices in the food delivery industry, such as a chef using a broom to clean kitchen walls and a restaurant owner's son stepping on food with his feet, raising concerns about the safety of the food being delivered.

💡Unemployment

Unemployment is the state of being without a job while actively seeking work. The video discusses the high unemployment rate among the youth in China, which has forced many college graduates and highly educated individuals to turn to the food delivery industry for employment.

💡College Graduates

College graduates are individuals who have completed their undergraduate studies at a university or college. The script mentions the record number of college graduates in China and the difficulty they face in finding jobs, contributing to the large number of college-educated individuals in the food delivery workforce.

💡Professional Qualification Certificate

A professional qualification certificate is a document that certifies an individual's competence in a specific profession. The video script shows individuals with such certificates, including the narrator, who despite their qualifications, have resorted to working in the food delivery industry.

💡Youth Unemployment Rate

The youth unemployment rate is the percentage of unemployed individuals in the labor force who are aged 16 to 24. The video script mentions that this rate in China has reached new highs, indicating a significant challenge for young people entering the job market.

💡Delivery Workers

Delivery workers are individuals whose job is to transport goods or services, in this case, food, from one place to another. The video script discusses the struggles of delivery workers, including long working hours, low pay, and the risk of accidents while on the job.

💡Industry Saturation

Industry saturation refers to a state where an industry has reached the maximum number of competitors or participants it can support. The script mentions that the food delivery industry in China is extremely saturated, leading to layoffs and increased competition among delivery workers.

💡Income Compression

Income compression is a reduction in the difference between the highest and lowest wages or earnings within an industry or occupation. The video script describes how delivery workers are facing reduced earnings due to cuts in delivery fees, highlighting the financial challenges they face.

Highlights

Leang Ding graduated from G University law school and has both undergraduate and master's degrees, as well as a professional qualification certificate from the judicial examination.

Highly educated Chinese talents are working in the food delivery industry, which is not considered a respectable job in China.

Food safety issues in China's food delivery industry, such as finding a mouse head in a meal and eating an entire rat in takeout.

Hygiene concerns in food delivery, including a chef using a broom to clean kitchen walls and a child stepping on food with their feet.

The influx of highly educated individuals into the food delivery industry amid China's economic recession.

Media report on 70,000 masters and PhDs delivering food, questioning if they are letting down their academic credentials.

Survey data showing 7 million food delivery workers in China, with 1% holding master's or doctorate degrees.

Economic decline in China leading to job scarcity, with the food delivery industry becoming a last resort for many.

High youth unemployment rate in China, with the real estate industry collapse affecting related employment.

Saturated food delivery industry with large-scale layoffs and intense competition.

Delivery workers facing wage compression and reduced delivery fees, impacting their livelihood.

Difficult working conditions for delivery workers, including avoiding traffic police and working in harsh weather.

Increasing number of women, including pregnant women, joining the food delivery industry.

Delivery workers' struggle with fines for exceeding time limits and the impact on their income.

A survey report on the working hours and conditions of Chinese food delivery riders, highlighting the long hours and penalties.

The psychological impact on highly educated individuals working in the food delivery industry and the challenges they face.

A personal account of a teacher delivering food, sharing his experience and earnings.

The harsh reality of the food delivery industry as a last resort for many, despite the challenges and low social status.

Transcripts

[Music]

hello everyone I am leang ding I

graduated from G University law school

with my undergraduate degree this is my

undergraduate diploma bachelor's degree

certificate from gin University master's

degree certificate from renman

University of China this is my

professional qualification certificate

from the judicial

examination more Highly Educated Chinese

talents have no choice but to work in

the food delivery industry this is not a

respectable job in China before

continuing let's look at the darkness

behind China's seemingly ever growing

food delivery industry his on June 1st

2023 at jangi industrial vocational and

Technical College a student found a

mouse head in his meal while eating in

the cafeteria causing an uproar on the

internet on July 4th 2024 a neicon from

changdu shishan Province ordered Matan

takeout and actually ate an entire rat

from the meal some medicon said I was

eating and almost vomited when I saw

this picture some people also said it's

a bit outrageous to have mice in a

takeaway People Order Teo because they

have no time or it's inconvenient to

cook and the food is delicious however

the hygienic situation of takeways is

worrying in September 2023 someone

captured a video showing a chef using a

broom dipped in water from a cooking pot

to clean the walls in the kitchen on the

table is the takeaway packaged for

delivery in July 2018 when a delivery

man sir named Chen went to Chong Chang

malatang Restaurant in shanto Guangdong

to pick up takeout he was surprised to

find 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 the delivery

boy took a photo and handed it to the

local Health Department the store was

forced to close it's reported that the

business of this malatang shop is very

good now let's get back to the topic of

delivery people in the midst of the

current economic recession China's food

delivery industry has seen an influx of

an incredibly large number of Highly

Educated people on April 18th 2023 an

article by the Chinese media netes

entitled 70,000 Masters and phds deliver

food did they let down their academic

credentials or did their academic

qualifications fail them said today

there are too many people delivering

food and more and more people continue

to enter the industry including

unemployed workers bosses who have

failed to start their businesses and

college students who cannot find

jobs there is even special survey data

showing that there are 7 million food

delivery guys in China of which 1% are

those with master's degrees and

Doctorate Degrees which means that there

are 70,000 people with master's degrees

and doctorates delivering food in

addition there are also those with

college degrees food delivery staff

account for 11% that is 770,000 college

students are delivering food and

delivery staff with a bachelor's degree

account for 3% that is 210,000 college

students are delivering food in total

college students with a college degree

or above account for 15% of the

workforce that is 1.05 million college

students are delivering

food why do these highly educated and

outstanding young people feel forced to

settle on delivering food because as

China's economy continues to decline

many companies have closed down the

Education and Training industry has been

severely hit and many young people

cannot find jobs in 2024 the number of

college graduates in China will reach a

new high reaching 1.79 million China's

GDP growth in the first first half of

this year was only 5% according to the

GDP growth rate announced by the CCP

nearly 7 million college graduates

cannot find a job moreover many foreign

capitals have left China and many

Chinese companies have also gone

bankrupt with civil servants Banks

schools and other Industries

experiencing large- scale layoffs newly

graduated college students and highly

educated Personnel who have lost their

jobs in other departments have no choice

but to start taking out

food this picture circulated online is

in March 2021 shows a young man

delivering food with his young child he

says I am a software engineer I used to

look down on the delivery boy but now I

have no choice the family needs to eat

on July 15th 2024 a jangu food delivery

Rider said in a video I studied for an

undergraduate degree and majored in

accounting now I deliver food what about

you w

nison responded one after another I am

an undergraduate student majoring in

medical laboratory technology and now I

making harassing phone calls I have a

bachelor's degree in civil engineering

and now I also deliver food I got an

undergraduate degree in electronic

information engineering I kept winning

Awards in college and now I run a street

stall in a small County in this video a

young man wearing May to on delivery

clothes speaks fluent English to the

camera but the content makes people

either laugh or cry hey guys what's up

for those of you who have just graduated

from schools and who are wondering what

kind of Bright Futures is ahead of you

well spoil alerts this is where we going

to end up in and don't be

surprised this picture shows a delivery

boy showing his diploma he is a master's

graduate from renman University of China

this video shows that a master student

from renman University of China has also

become a delivery boy in the video he

specific shares his study skills and

college entrance examination stories

with college entrance examination

students hello everyone I am leang dond

ding I graduated from Gan University law

school this is my undergraduate diploma

bachelor's degree certificate from Jen

University and master's degree

certificate from renman University of

China these are my professional

qualification certificates from the

judicial

examination this video shows how a tough

graduate from peing University couldn't

find a job delivering food and was

ridiculed by

medicon after the video of delivering

food after graduation from peaking

University was posted yesterday many

medicin ridiculed me yes that's right I

also feel sorry for my parents

painstaking cultivation it's even more

difficult to accept the reality of

falling from the peak to the

bottom for Highly Educated talents

engaged in the food delivery industry

this industry will not only bring about

a huge psychological Gap but they will

also face a difficult and uncertain

future in 2023 China's youth

unemployment rate hit new highs among

young people aged 16 to 24 the urban

unemployment rate is as high as

21.3% but Outsiders say this figure is

seriously

underestimated with the collapse of

China's real estate industry the

employment rate related to Home

Appliances decoration Property

Management Etc has also dropped

companies large and small have laid off

employees so many people are rushing to

go for takeout but now the food delivery

industry is also extremely saturated

this video shows that in February 20123

many delivery workers were waiting

outside for orders in a certain place in

China as a large number of people join

the food delivery industry there are

also large layoffs

the man disclosed in the video that the

manager of the Matan site said that he

had basically fired all the disobedient

guys and also some who worked part-time

and they would all be fired one after

another this shows that the current

employment situation is tough when many

people want to resign from the company

they often say the worst case scenario

is to deliver food however as you can

see from this video it's challenging to

be a delivery

person hello everyone this is Guan Lan

water hole Shenzhen like this time in

previous years the order volume is

relatively stable now you can see that

the streets are full of riders waiting

on the roadside for orders from the

system I looked at the data of two

colleagues today one of them just got

off work and placed an order after

waiting an hour then another colleague

Works full-time most of the day earning

about $6

us the job of the delivery boy seems

really difficult even so their wages are

still being compressed on March 17th

2023 a Chinese medicon posted Shenzhen

mayuan officially issued a notice that

take out delivery fees will be greatly

reduced May Tuan has made structural

adjustments to delivery fees as a result

the delivery fees for many orders that

you can see today have dropped

significantly and a large number of

orders have appeared on the platform for

orders of us40 cents and Orders of

approximately $14 there are no large

subsidies and the delivery fee is only

us60

the price reduction is really too harsh

dada and Shan Fung Express have also cut

prices accordingly and shenz Jen's Take

out delivery fees have entered the era

of

us40 faced with Fierce industry

competition layoffs and declining income

delivery Boys still have to avoid the

traffic police this video shows an

actual scene in juw high city guangong

province on July 16th

20124 of course many women have joined

the food delivery industry including

pregnant women this picture shows that

on August 19th 2022 a female delivery

worker in shinyang hernand Province was

7 months pregnant and was still

delivering food with a big belly this is

also a microcosm of the lower class

people in China this video shows that in

May 20121 an urban management officer in

J Jang ripped away a takeout box from

the takeout boys motorcycle on the night

of August 2023 it rained heavily in Long

gong Shenzhen a delivery boy struggled

to push a cart to deliver food in the

flood some nison said to survive we have

no choice but to fight some nison who

know the Inside Story said if you exceed

the time limit you will be fined

heavily on August 23rd 2023 Shen bin a

teacher at the school of liberal arts of

ly e University in Shandong Province

posted an article in the winter of 2022

I delivered food in Lin e City on the

WEA public account dong e Academy he

wrote that his regular income was $138

per hour in 275 per hour was his limit

in May toan Riders are divided into

three levels professional riters go to

work at 9:00 every day and get off work

at 9:00 in the evening the actual time

is longer they run orders pushed by the

system and each order costs about

us50 they are allowed 4 days off every

month you must report the day of rest a

week in advance you cannot ask for leave

the more windy rainy and snowy it is the

more timely delivery is required if you

receive a negative review the penalty

ranges from you

$27.50 to us $69 and the general fine is

US $69 into the survey report on the

professional group of Chinese Takeaway

writers released on February 2nd 2023

the professional group of Chinese

Takeaway writers Works an average of 6.4

days a week and an average of 9.8 hours

a day 61.6% of food delivery Riders work

7 days a week 55.1% of food delivery

Riders work an average of 8 to 10 hours

a day and 36.7% of food delivery Riders

work in average of more than 10 hours a

day is a perfect example of the

challenges Chinese delivery workers face

and also the epitome of many Chinese

people

[Music]