NYT: Record 12.7M Chinese Graduates Face 2026 Job Market Where AI Is Erasing Entry-Level Roles

The New York Times reports a record 12.7 million university graduates — about 4% more than 2025's 12.22M — entering China's workforce in 2026 into a job market where AI is systematically eroding entry-level white-collar roles. Youth unemployment (ages 16-24) sits at 15.6%, and reporters find graduates' skills increasingly misaligned with what employers now need after automation absorbs starter tasks. Beijing has responded with a 2026 employment strategy pushing 'AI-adjacent' new occupations.