A record 12.7M graduates are entering China's workforce in 2026 as AI adds uncertainty to an oversaturated job market with a shrinking pool of entry-level roles (Yan Zhuang/New York Times)

A record 12.7 million graduates will join China’s labor force in 2026, confronting an oversaturated job market where entry-level positions are shrinking and AI-driven automation creates heightened uncertainty about employment prospects. The surge in new workers coincides with rapid AI adoption, intensifying competition for the limited roles available.