China Cutting Back on Liberal Arts Higher Education: But, Come On, What's Really Generating Educated-No Work

 The last time China released numbers about youth joblessness they were over 20%. That was 2023. No numbers have been made public since. I guess we should assume things have not improved. 

Perhaps it's in response to concern over jobless youths (a revolution could be brewing) that China is pulling back on the liberal arts in higher education. For example:

"The Communication University of China in Beijing ... cut five undergraduate degrees last year, including photography, comics, visual communication design, new media art and fashion design ... Fudan University is also slashing liberal arts enrollment from 30-40% of total enrollment to 20%." 

The push is toward AI training. 

But, as we know from the US, AI skills might not necessarily be the ticket for gaining access to entry-level jobs Employers are going for experience, not untested skills and enthusiasm. Those AI natives in the Class of 2026 might not, it is turning out, have an edge. Time will tell if China is onto a solution for the global problem of educated youth without jobs. 

The same mindset - blame liberal arts majors - has caught on in the US, of course. 

Here in America, liberal arts institutions of higher education such as Lourdes have actually shut down. Clarkson University is phasing out all majors in the humanities. The story has it that former Bard president Leon Botstein developed a relationship with Jeffrey Epstein to shake loose the donations that would keep the liberal arts college going. Liberal arts Seton Hill University, based in rural Pennsylvania, seems to be veering more toward the health fields for degrees. 

But is it a liberal arts background versus university education in a specific marketable discipline which is the primary reason for the global problem of Educated-No Work? 

There are fierce defenders of the liberal arts such as Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings. Moreover, iconic Wall Street lawyer at elite Paul, Weiss Brad Karp majored in political science. It was when taking a calligraphy class at Reed College that the late Steve Jobs got to thinking about design. Design gave Apple its competitive edge in marketing.

Sure, liberal arts majors are a handy scapegoat. However, bit by bit it's being documented that youth joblessness results from the intersection of multiple factors. 

Among them is the shift from employee development to hit-the-ground-running with the exact skills to do this job. Because of that, remote positions, which require a high level of know-how, are not open to those without proven-out skills. Many roles are hybrid, part in-office, part WFH.

Another factor is the sustained cost-efficiency imperative. There are fewer and fewer jobs. That's because manpower is a big expense. The need to slash that expense probably overrides any introduction of AI. Maybe your kid supposedly played it safe and prepared in their education to be an auditor. Deloitte just cut 175 auditors.

In addition, there's a glut of the educated. That's at a time when more and more knowledge work can be performed by AI. 

Perhaps economies around the world have to embrace the realization of an overall declining demand for human manpower. This isn't just about knowledge work. Professional anonymous network Reddit carries laments by parents whose children can't break into the trades. Apprenticeships are hard to land. It's all too easy to get pushed out early in the game. Seasoned trade folks seem to be protecting their job security for now, blocking new blood. Doritos are being delivered by driverless trucks. 

So, wide-scale experimentation has to be unleashed about how to transition a society to a significantly reduced need for human manpower. Universal Basic Income is just a snippet. The most promising could be business-government partnerships. 

In coaching I guide youth to start somewhere, anywhere. Then build on that.  

Careers? So Over. It’s about Earning a Good Living. No matter what.

Complimentary consultation. No Pressure. Street-smart Guidance. Contact Jane Genova janegenova374@gmail.com.