A man in China who holds degrees from top universities, including Oxford, is working as a food delivery rider, raising questions about the value of academic qualifications in a difficult job market, the South China Morning Post reported.
Ding Yuanzhao, 39, has studied at some of the world’s top institutions. He completed his undergraduate degree in chemistry at Tsinghua University after scoring nearly 700 out of 750 in the country’s highly competitive university entrance exam, known as gaokao, in 2004.
He then earned a master’s degree in energy engineering from Peking University, followed by a PhD in biology from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He also obtained a master’s degree in biodiversity from the University of Oxford in the UK.
Despite these qualifications, Ding said he struggled to find work after his postdoctoral contract at the National University of Singapore ended in March last year.
“I sent many CVs and attended more than 10 interviews, but none worked out,” he said in a video shared on social media, according to SCMP.
He then registered as a food delivery worker in Singapore, earning about 700 Singapore dollars (US$550) per week by working 10-hour days.
“It is a stable job. I can support my family with this income. If you work hard, you can earn a decent living. It’s not a bad job,” Ding said.
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He added that delivering food allowed him to stay fit, as he enjoys running. “One advantage of delivering food is that you can get your workout in at the same time,” he said.
Ding said he did not choose private tutoring because he was too shy to find students himself. He has since returned to China and now works as a delivery rider in Beijing for Meituan, a major e-commerce platform.
His story gained wide attention online after he posted a message for students who had just finished this year’s gaokao.
“If you haven’t done well, don’t be pessimistic or discouraged. If you’ve done well, remember that most people’s work doesn’t make much difference in the grand scheme of things,” he said in the video.
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His comments led to heated discussion on Chinese social media. One person commented, “So what’s the point of education?” while another wrote, “He studied so much and still ended up doing food delivery.”
Others defended Ding’s decision, with one saying, “There’s nothing wrong with his choice. At least he didn’t give up when life was hard.”
In recent years, around 13 million students sit for the gaokao each year in China. But the country’s job market remains tight, especially for young people. In May, the unemployment rate for urban youth aged 16 to 24 stood at 14.9 per cent, according to China’s National Bureau of Statistics.
