Japanese Media: More Excellent Chinese Graduates Choose Manufacturing
According to an article from "Business Insider (Japanese Edition)" on March 19: Graduates from China's top universities are increasingly choosing the manufacturing and energy sectors rather than the technology and finance industries.
The number of Tsinghua University graduates entering the manufacturing and energy sectors increased by 19.1% year-on-year. With the development of China's industrial base, the nature of manufacturing employment is changing.
For many years, graduates from China's top universities have aspired to work in the financial and technology sectors. However, now many have shifted their focus to the manufacturing and energy fields.
According to employment data released on March 10, 2026, on the official website of Tsinghua University, the number of graduates entering the manufacturing and energy sectors increased by 19.1% in 2025.
According to the university, the main employment destinations for this year's graduates include companies such as Huawei, BYD, State Grid Corporation of China, and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC).
Huawei is a global telecommunications equipment giant, while BYD is one of the world's largest electric vehicle manufacturers. The State Grid Corporation operates the national power grid, and the Nuclear Industry Group leads the country's nuclear energy industry.
The proportion of Tsinghua University graduates entering the manufacturing and energy sectors has been rising for the sixth consecutive year.
Tsinghua University is considered comparable to institutions like MIT and Stanford University in China and is regarded as an important source of talent for Chinese technology companies and industrial giants.
According to the employment statistics of Huazhong University of Science and Technology released in January, about 2,000 graduates entered the information technology sector, about 1,500 entered manufacturing, about 300 entered the financial sector, and only about 240 entered the construction sector.
According to the South China Morning Post, the proportion of Chinese university graduates working in manufacturing has risen from 17.9% in 2020 to 22.5% in 2024.
More and more graduates are choosing to work in the manufacturing and energy sectors for several reasons.
China's industrial sectors, especially semiconductors, electric vehicles, batteries, and renewable energy, have become highly technology-intensive industries that require top engineers. These fields are seen as "jobs involving cutting-edge technology rather than traditional factories" and may offer "very competitive" salaries.
As China pushes for the upgrading of its industrial base, the nature of manufacturing operations is evolving.
There is currently a high demand for professionals in fields such as engineering, data science, and systems integration in areas such as electric vehicles, power equipment, and nuclear energy.
"Hardware" and advanced manufacturing are no longer low-skill industries but are viewed as high-tech innovation fields that fully utilize robotics, semiconductors, advanced materials, and industrial artificial intelligence. They are seen as frontier technologies, not blue-collar industries. Highly specialized engineering and research positions hold considerable prestige among engineering students.
For many years, many top Chinese university graduates were attracted by the rapid growth and high salaries of internet platform companies and the financial industry.
However, the employment rate in the platform economy has slowed down, and regulatory tightening has brought more uncertainties, Fu Yongyan continued to say.
At the same time, investors' attention has shifted to hardware, industrial technology, and energy sectors, where capital and talent are concentrated.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1860047190413322/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.