Office workers cross a road in Beijing’s central business district on July 31, 2025. Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images
For years, Beijing has offered opportunities for young Chinese seeking careers and entrepreneurial ambitions. Its elite universities, state-owned enterprises, and tech giants drew waves of graduates from across China eager to build a future in the capital city.
However, as China’s economic slowdown drags on, that once-powerful “Beijing dream” is beginning to fade. After this year’s Lunar New Year holiday, many young workers are reconsidering whether returning to the capital is still worth it.
High Unemployment
Official figures suggest the shift may already be underway.
