China’s Ministry of Education has initiated a “100-day sprint” employment campaign aimed at facilitating job placements for the graduating class of 2026. Running from June through August, the program targets the critical window before and shortly after graduation to support a record 12.7 million college graduates expected this year.

The ministry’s directive emphasizes creating a favorable environment for graduate employment, with an emphasis on improving both the quantity and quality of job opportunities. Local education authorities and universities are instructed to expedite employment-support policies, utilizing digital tools such as quizzes and short videos to promote awareness of benefits like social security subsidies, tax incentives, and startup loans.

In regions where employment progress is slower, universities and relevant departments are tasked with establishing direct, one-on-one contacts with local human resources officials to strengthen ties with employers. These institutions are also encouraged to organize frequent, small-scale job fairs that cater specifically to local employment demands.

The campaign includes a push to accelerate recruitment for government-supported jobs in civil service, public sector institutions, and State-owned enterprises, with hiring processes slated to conclude by the end of August. Special attention will be given to disadvantaged graduates, who are guaranteed at least three stable job opportunities through tailored support and capacity-building initiatives.

Officials have instituted strict rules for employment data reporting, with the threat of significant penalties for violations, and have committed to ongoing tracking and follow-up support for graduates to ensure continuous access to employment resources. A “top-leader responsibility system” is being implemented to hold local education departments and universities accountable for employment outcomes.

Nationwide, the campaign expects to host over 4,000 campus job fairs, offering more than 5 million vacancies. The National College Student Employment Service platform will add over 10 themed online job fairs with more than 1.5 million positions available.

Provincial efforts have also intensified. At Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, a “university-college-class” three-tier system has been adopted to monitor and assist struggling students individually. The university reportedly conducts nearly 300 corporate visits and around 2,000 job fairs annually, while creating over 300 research assistant roles linked to national science and technology innovation projects. According to Liu Bo, the university’s Party secretary, vulnerable graduates have achieved a 100 percent employment rate in recent years, with the majority working in strategic emerging industries and key development zones.

In Yunnan province, employment of graduates facing difficulties has been prioritized through a pairing mechanism involving 28,000 teachers assisting 71,000 students, with over 201,000 support sessions provided. The province has allocated an annual special fund of 8.25 million yuan for training and support, which has benefited more than 63,000 disadvantaged graduates. Targeted employment campaigns have also been implemented for graduates with disabilities, female graduates, retired military personnel, and those with medical specialties.

These coordinated efforts reflect the government’s broader aim to stabilize the labor market amid a historically large cohort of new university graduates, ensuring broad access to employment opportunities across diverse sectors and regions.