Hiring of overeducated China graduate at crematorium sparks renewed debate over country’s dire youth job market
- Master’s degree holders from China’s top universities among applicants
- Cremation workers among those who qualify for secure job, good salary
A graduate in China with a master’s degree who was offered a job as a funeral cremator has reinstated the country’s high rate of youth unemployment at the centre of public debate.
At the end of April, Guangzhou Civil Affairs Bureau in Guangdong province, southern China released a list of successful job applicants on the internet for the position of cremator at funeral centres in the city, the Xiaoxiang Morning Herald reported.
Among candidates was a graduate with a master’s degree in philosophy from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Others include a graduate in architecture and another in chemistry from top universities in Guangzhou.
An official from the bureau said cremation workers are entitled to bian zhi, a benefit that ensures a stable, lifelong job. In China, bian zhi is only given to employees of government departments or government-affiliated institutions.
Candidates for the cremation position should have at least a tertiary education, a permanent residency in Guangzhou and a driving licence. The job requires them to touch and move bodies and includes some night shifts.
“There are just a few openings for this position, but we’ve received many resumes from applicants,” the official said.
