From Study Pressure to Job Anxiety: The Hidden Struggles of Chinese Gen Z

Let’s be real — growing up in China today isn’t just about acing exams and landing a dream job. For Chinese Gen Z, it’s more like running a never-ending marathon with no finish line in sight. From the moment they step into middle school, the pressure starts piling on. Gaokao? Yeah, that’s not just a test — it’s a life-or-death mission. One bad score and suddenly your future feels like it’s slipping through your fingers.

But here’s the thing: even if you survive Gaokao and make it into a top university, the stress doesn’t stop. It just morphs. Suddenly, it’s all about internships, resumes, and LinkedIn profiles. Everyone’s asking, ‘What’s your plan after graduation?’ as if you’re supposed to have it all figured out by 22. Spoiler alert: nobody does.

And let’s talk about the job market. It’s brutal. Millions of grads every year, but the number of decent jobs? Not even close. You study for 16 years straight, only to realize the entry-level gig pays less than your part-time coffee shop job from college. Talk about a reality check.

Social media doesn’t help either. Open WeChat Moments or Xiaohongshu, and boom — someone’s flaunting their offer from Tencent, another’s jet-setting in Bali, while you’re stuck at home wondering how to explain to your parents why you’re still ‘figuring things out.’

The worst part? Mental health is still kind of a taboo topic. You can’t just say, ‘Hey Mom, I’m anxious and overwhelmed,’ without getting a lecture about how tough life was back in her day. So most just keep quiet, pretending everything’s fine while secretly drowning in stress.

But hey, it’s not all doom and gloom. Gen Z is also the most aware generation when it comes to self-care and boundaries. More young people are saying no to toxic work cultures, exploring gap years, or starting side hustles. They’re redefining what success means — not just money or status, but peace of mind, freedom, and actually enjoying life.

So yeah, the pressure is real. But so is the resilience. Chinese Gen Z might be stressed, anxious, and burnt out — but they’re also waking up, speaking up, and slowly building a future that actually makes sense for them.