Oxford-educated, now a food delivery rider: A warning sign

Ding Yuanzhao, a 39-year-old with a storied academic background from Oxford University and Peking University and a PhD in biology, epitomizes a systemic failure in employment. Despite excelling in China’s grueling entrance exams and studying at elite institutions, Ding now spends his days delivering food in Singapore, a stark indicator of overqualification meeting limited opportunities.

After losing his postdoctoral position in March 2024, Ding submitted countless applications, attended ten interviews, and still found no job commensurate with his qualifications. Instead, he is forced into labor that pays a meager 700 Singapore dollars per week for 10-hour shifts. His struggle is not an isolated incident but a symptom of a broader economic malaise affecting not only Singapore but also vast populations in developing economies.

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In India, the statistics are equally grim. A report by the Institute for Competitiveness reveals that only 8.25% of graduates secure employment that matches their education. Further compounding the issue, a study by the National Council of Applied Economic Research found that 32% of food delivery workers possess college degrees. The crisis penetrates government recruitment too, with over 73,000 candidates vying for just 792 police positions—cases in which even PhD holders are forced into roles intended for individuals with far fewer qualifications. Another report underscores that 88% of India’s workforce languishes in low-skill jobs, regardless of their educational attainments.

The government’s Skill India Mission is a feeble response to these pervasive challenges. As AI, automation, and digital disruptions further shrink viable opportunities, the system continues to produce graduates who are ill-matched to available work. The plight of highly educated individuals like Ding underscores the urgent need to reassess educational systems and labor markets. Without meaningful reforms, the oversupply of degree holders and scarcity of appropriate roles will erode the value significantly.