Expanding career paths for Tibetan youth

On the morning of Aug 18, in Gyatsa county, Lhokha city, Xizang autonomous region, 56 Tibetan youth stood in lines, ready to embark on a new chapter of their lives. The departure ceremony, organized by Gyatsa county, marked the second group this year heading to Yichang, Hubei province, for employment.

These college graduates were set to travel across great distances to begin their careers at Zhijiang Huaxin Optoelectronic in Yichang.

The departure represented a major achievement for the Hubei provincial Xizang-aid team, particularly its Yichang branch, in promoting employment opportunities for Tibetan youth outside Xizang.

The team collaborates with local governments to match enterprise needs with the professional backgrounds of young job seekers, ensuring that candidates are well-suited to their positions.

According to Wan Pingyuan, executive deputy head of Gyatsa, the team's primary goal is to expand access to quality careers for Tibetan college graduates. It also aims to enhance interaction, exchange, and integration between the ethnic groups of Hubei and Xizang, strengthening the foundation of ethnic unity.

The team has introduced an innovative "group employment" model, which places individuals from the same county in the same industrial park and company. This approach makes it easier to provide services and support for employees.

"This model has created a fast track for employment, connecting the plateau with other provinces," Wan said.

Since 2023, the Hubei provincial Xizang-aid team has facilitated six rounds of group employment outside Xizang for residents of Gyatsa county. Through this initiative, 279 young people have secured jobs with enterprises in Hubei, including 176 from Gyatsa. Their average age is 23, and 87 percent hold college degrees or higher.

Changing perspectives

Wangdue Dorje, 23, was among the first group of Tibetan youth to join the program in 2023. Before that, he worked as a waiter in a restaurant in Lhokha city, earning a modest income while diligently preparing for the civil service exam.

Like many young people in Xizang, he had long believed that becoming a civil servant was the only promising career path.

At a time when his future felt uncertain, the township government visited his village to promote the external employment policy and posted a notice in the local university students' WeChat group. Upon seeing it, Wangdue Dorje signed up immediately.

"I definitely wouldn't have considered working outside Xizang without this policy," Wangdue Dorje said. "Working away from home is challenging because of limited finances, few connections, and fierce competition."

Traditionally, young people in Xizang have had three main employment options: first, taking the highly competitive civil service exams; second, finding a job or starting a business within Xizang, which allows them to stay close to home but generally offers lower pay; or third, seeking employment outside the region — a less popular choice in the past due to high costs and limited access to information.

However, with the active involvement of Xizang-aid teams and a series of supportive policies, working outside the region has become an increasingly attractive option for Tibetan youth.

As Wan noted, many young people — and their parents — have long valued government positions above all other career choices. Local governments and aid teams are now working to shift this mindset, helping them recognize the growing importance of opportunities beyond Xizang.

To support this shift, the teams invite Tibetan youth who have thrived in enterprises outside the region to return home and share their experiences. They also provide detailed explanations of national policies, including tax incentives and talent development programs for businesses, giving local youth the guidance and confidence to explore careers beyond their hometowns.

The teams also arrange visits for parents to their children's workplaces, allowing them to witness their growth firsthand and encouraging parents to reconsider any preconceived notions.

Tsering Drolma, 23, moved to Yichang for work in July 2024. Assigned to the quality center at Zhijiang Huaxin Optoelectronic, she was responsible for inspecting lenses.

The new role and unfamiliar environment brought significant pressure, especially since she had studied animal husbandry and veterinary medicine at Loudi Vocational and Technical College in Hunan province.

"Lens inspection required using a microscope to distinguish good products from defective ones, which was completely new to me," Tsering Drolma recalled. "There was also a language barrier. My colleagues spoke Mandarin, but sometimes they used dialects, which confused me at first."

However, these challenges became the driving force behind her growth. Her mentor, a 19-year-old from Guizhou province, turned out to be her most dependable support.

"Even though he is younger than me, he is always patient and reminds other workers to speak Mandarin with me," she said.

With his guidance, Tsering Drolma gradually mastered the inspection techniques and can now identify nearly 20 different types of lenses. "I can tell what kind of lens it is at a glance. It's fascinating," she said proudly.

"My work skills have improved, and I've also grown personally and become better at solving problems," she added.

A promising life

Working outside Xizang has not only shaped the career paths of Wangdue Dorje and Tsering Drolma but also profoundly changed their lives.

Wangdue Dorje comes from a rural family, where his parents earn a living by collecting caterpillar fungus in the mountains. When he received his first paycheck, his mother was moved to tears.

"She said, 'My son has grown up,'" Wangdue Dorje recalled. "My parents would never actually take my money. They always say, 'You have your own challenges; keep it for yourself.' But deep down, I know they are extremely happy."

Now, Wangdue Dorje is saving for his dream: opening a shop back home to sell Tibetan specialty products, both in-store and online.

He hopes to realize that dream within five years. "I've noticed big changes in my hometown," he said. "Many new roads have been built, and the streets are lined with stores, most opened by university graduates supported by national entrepreneurial funds. I want to bring back the experience and resources I've gained outside Xizang to contribute to my hometown's development."

Tsering Drolma has also built a fulfilling life in Yichang. Her monthly salary ranges from 4,500 to 7,000 yuan ($633.28 to $985.12), depending on her workload — far more than she could earn at home.

After work, she enjoys dining out, going to KTV, or exploring the suburbs with both Tibetan colleagues and local friends.

"Working away from home has given me many new experiences. My interpersonal skills have improved, and my world has grown. I'm very satisfied with my life now," she said.

Her experience is inspiring to others. Her 21-year-old younger sister, who recently graduated, is being encouraged by both their parents and Tsering Drolma to seek employment outside Xizang. For other Tibetan youth who may still be hesitant, she advises keeping an open mind and considering opportunities beyond their region.

"Working elsewhere offers higher salaries and more benefits," she said. "The employment policies are excellent. There's nothing to worry about."

guiqian@i21st.cn