"Changes in Labor Market Supply Structure Due to Population Aging"
"Policies Needed to Abolish Age Restrictions in Corporate Hiring"
China's Job Market Worsens... Severe Youth Unemployment
Workers Over 40 Marginalized in Employment Market
With the ongoing deterioration of the job market, an increasing number of Chinese companies are abolishing age restrictions and prioritizing skills and experience in their hiring processes.
On June 10, China National Radio reported, "Many companies are removing the age limit of 35 for recruitment and are now prioritizing experience and ability when hiring."
Xiao, who is 37 years old this year, shared in an interview with China National Radio that he has faced repeated rejections due to his age. He said, "Many companies require job seekers to be under 35, so it is difficult to even pass the resume screening stage." Jin, who lives in Shanghai, reported that after working at an online game development company, he submitted his resume to change jobs starting in June last year, but was rejected because he was 39 years old.
In recent years, there have been growing calls in China to abolish the age restriction of 35 or younger in recruitment. This is because age restrictions in hiring are believed to cause social problems, such as worsening the job market. As a result, some companies have announced that they will relax age restrictions during the document screening process and place greater emphasis on experience and ability. At the same time, there are increasing calls to eliminate unreasonable employment restrictions and discrimination.
According to reports, public institutions in regions such as Shandong, Xinjiang, and Guizhou have eased age restrictions for certain positions, raising the limit to under 45 years old. In September last year, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council announced the "Implementation of Priority Strategies for Employment Promotion," expressing that unreasonable employment discrimination based on region, gender, or age should be abolished and the right to equal employment should be guaranteed.
Li Yuhui, a professor at the School of Labor and Human Resources at Renmin University of China, explained, "The younger generation can more easily absorb the general knowledge structure of society and quickly adapt to technological changes and industrial demands, so companies have no choice but to focus on nurturing young talent." He added, "In addition, companies turn to the younger generation in order to reduce recruitment costs."
However, he emphasized that the supply structure of the labor market is changing due to population aging. He argued, "We must make the most of human resources across all age groups to address labor shortages," and insisted, "Policies should require companies to abolish age restrictions in hiring." He went on to say, "Through tax benefits and subsidies, companies should be encouraged to hire and train older job seekers," and explained, "An evaluation system focused on capabilities should be established so that older job seekers can also adapt to market demand." He also suggested that flexible employment models, such as remote work, should be explored.
Zheng Yang, senior partner at Beijing Lantai Law Firm, said, "Older workers require higher salaries and retirement pensions, which can be a significant burden for companies." However, he also argued, "Policies such as gradually extending the statutory retirement age should be implemented to break down age barriers in the job market."
China has faced a severe employment crisis in recent years. The number of graduates expected this year is projected to reach 12.22 million, but the employment rate remains bleak. As of April this year, the youth (16-24 years old) unemployment rate in China reached 15.8 percent, exceeding the overall unemployment rate of 5.1 percent. The job market continues to worsen due to the persistent economic downturn, unresolved youth employment difficulties, and the ongoing trade war with the United States.
In particular, the employment difficulties faced by people over 40 have emerged as a serious social issue. Many companies hire workers under 35 at lower wages, resulting in those over 40 being marginalized in the job market. According to the "Labor Market Report for the First Quarter of 2025" released by the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the unemployment rate for people aged 40 to 55 was 5.6 percent, up 0.8 percentage points from the same period in 2024. This is the highest figure recorded in the past five years.
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