Age Discrimination in China's Job Market: The New Norm for Those Over 30?
In recent weeks, a controversial trend has emerged on Chinese social media platform, Weibo, with the hashtag #Are jobs really harder to find for people aged 30 and up?# gaining significant traction. The hashtag, which has garnered over 100 million views, was sparked by a supermarket's job posting for a cashier position, which specified an age range of 18 to 30 years old.
25 March 2024
The post, which was shared by a user, expressed feelings of anxiety and pressure. "Seeing this job posting, I felt a wave of stress come over me. Is it really that hard to find a job nowadays?" The user questioned, highlighting the growing concern among Weibo users about the difficulties of finding employment. Another user echoed these sentiments, expressing their frustration with the situation. "This is getting out of hand.
It used to be that people over 35 had a hard time finding work, but now it's people over 30. And at the same time, the retirement age is being pushed back. What are we supposed to do during that time?" This user's post also touched on the contentious issue of the retirement age being pushed back, which has added to the frustration and anxiety felt by many. The issue of age discrimination in the job market is not a new one, but it has become more prevalent in recent years. This has been particularly difficult for women, who are often faced with additional barriers to employment, such as being asked about their marital and childbearing status. A user who wrote about their experiences in the job market, expressed their frustration at being judged based on their age and marital status. "This time, the interviewer was more interested in whether I was married or had plans to have children. I had hoped that at 30, I would be in a position to negotiate better pay and benefits, but instead, I was seen as a potential liability." This user's post highlights the discrimination faced by many women in the job market. Another user, who shared a similar experience, expressed their frustration at being seen as a "ticking time-bomb" by potential employers. "Even if I don't bring up my marital status, they can still find out through my social media. It's like I'm being punished for being happy and settling down."
The issue of age discrimination in the job market is not only damaging to those who are affected, but it also has wider implications for society. As one user pointed out, "This is not just a problem for the individuals affected, but for society as a whole. It's not right to exclude people based on their age, and it's not sustainable in the long run." The issue has sparked a debate about the importance of addressing age discrimination in the job market, with many calling for more to be done to ensure that people are judged based on their skills and abilities, rather than their age. In conclusion, the issue of age discrimination in the job market is a complex one, with many factors contributing to the problem. However, it is clear that more needs to be done to address this issue, not only to ensure that people are given fair opportunities, but also to create a more inclusive and diverse society.