After three years of the pandemic, our society seems to have entered a new normal.
In 2024, we stand at a new beginning, but the road ahead is far from smooth.
The decline of real estate, the risk of wealth management products, the rise in prices and the pressure of inflation are all silent reminders that the difficult years may have just begun.
After the epidemic, our society is facing three major challenges: consumption downgrade, pressure in the job market, and competition in grassroots industries. The name Pinduoduo may have become a microcosm of China's consumption downgrade. Its earnings report showed a sharp surge in revenue, in stark contrast to the lackluster performances of JD.com and Alibaba.
Behind this is an indisputable fact: the consumption level of ordinary people is experiencing a total downgrade.
More and more people are starting to buy large items such as electrical appliances on Pinduoduo, instead of the cleaning supplies of the past. This is because, under economic pressure, price has become the most sensitive nerve for consumers.
Quality, perhaps no longer the only consideration, is a signal worth pondering. China's job market is undergoing an unprecedented test. This year, we welcomed 11 million graduates, and their path to employment is undoubtedly difficult. According to BOSS Zhipin's data, the number of new users has soared to 14.61 million, and behind this number is the tip of the iceberg of the wave of unemployment.
Zhaopin's report is even more worrying, with the number of jobs falling by 28.3% year-on-year, which is undoubtedly a heavy blow. The figure of 87 million unemployed people is a heavy pressure on every family and a severe test of social stability.
Turning our attention to grassroots industries, the situation is equally worrying. The increase in new forms of employment has made competition in industries such as food delivery, express delivery, and ride-hailing increasingly fierce. The former white-collar workers are now also involved in this race for survival.
It is an indisputable fact that the income of the delivery boy is decreasing, and the market for online car-hailing drivers is saturated. Their hard work and helplessness are a difficult problem given to us by the times.
In the face of the current dire situation, we should indeed be worried. But on the wheel of this era, each of us is a helmsman and needs to be brave enough to make wise decisions, especially at critical moments, such as whether to resign or change jobs.
It is necessary to remain optimistic, but more importantly, to establish the right outlook and values of consumption. Difficult days will pass, but before that, we need to learn to deal with ourselves, be prepared, plan and face the future strategically.