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Youth unemployment and underemployment, especially among college graduates, have surged to unprecedented levels in recent years in China. In this study, we highlight youth unemployment and underemployment as prevalent yet distinct phenomena, and explore their trends and determinants over the past few decades. We further investigate the social and political implications of youth unemployment and underemployment, specifically their impact on 1) marriage and fertility patterns, and 2) political attitudes and behaviors.

Yao Lu is Professor of Sociology and Faculty Affiliate at the Columbia Population Research Center (CPRC), the Weatherhead East Asian Institute (WEAI), and the Data Science Institute (DSI). Her research centers on the intersection of inequality, demography, and political sociology, particularly how demographic forces and inequality influence social and political processes in China. Her current work examines patterns and societal consequences of youth unemployment and underemployment in China. She has received funding from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Russell Sage Foundation. She has also conducted two national surveys as part of a team. The first survey focuses on migration and families in China (2012-2013). The second survey investigates how the COVID-19 pandemic has shaped ethnic/racial attitudes in the United States (2020-2022).

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