EconomyAI wave hits youth employment: how can graduates respond?

China is expected to have 12.7 million university graduates in 2026, while the number seeking work, including previously unemployed people and returning overseas students, exceeds 15 million. Youth unemployment among 16- to 24-year-olds stood at 14.9%. Hong Kong graduates also face pressure as suitable full-time vacancies have fallen sharply, especially in entry-level administrative, IT and programming roles vulnerable to automation. Scholars say AI is hitting jobs held by people in their first one to three years of work and highly educated cognitive roles.