As Chinese graduates opt for government jobs, what of the private sector?

In China, people are notoriously practical when it comes to selecting college majors. My personal experience illustrates that. After ranking among the top 10 students in my home province’s college entrance examination scores, I received unsolicited advice on picking majors.

My parents were counselled to steer me away from journalism, as it no longer promised a decent job placement after graduation. I was also cautioned against majoring in international economics, despite my high scores, because it was considered “too popular” at the time. Instead, international politics was suggested as a safer alternative.

However, as the Chinese saying goes, “thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river”. In other words, fortunes can change dramatically over time. In an ironic twist, legal- and politics-related majors have now become favoured choices for prospective college students.

This category of majors is quite broad, encompassing distinct fields including law, public security, international politics and even ideological and political education.

How popular are these majors? China University Rankings recently released the 2024 rankings of the most searched majors during the college entrance examination period. Law ranked first, while international economics and trade now rank 44th.

Meanwhile, the popularity of police academies has also increased. In both Heilongjiang province and Shanghai, nearly 10 per cent of college applicants are vying for spots in these institutions. Perhaps more tellingly, many high-scoring students, despite qualifying for elite universities, are opting instead for police academies.

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‘Let it rot’: surviving China's high unemployment and cost of living

A former classmate of mine, who recently