Young people nation's most strategic asset

China's long-term competitiveness will be determined less by any single technology or investment than by how effectively it prepares and engages its young people to participate in shaping economic and social life. In an era of rapid technological change and demographic transition, youth development is no longer merely a social concern; it is a strategic imperative.

President Xi Jinping has emphasized that young people are China's future and that raising the intellectual and moral standards of young people is a fundamental task requiring collective effort. These remarks point to a clear policy direction — human development must advance in step with technological progress.

China stands at the forefront of digital transformation. Artificial intelligence, automation and data-driven systems are reshaping productivity across nearly every sector. While these advances have delivered impressive efficiency gains, they have also reshaped how young people perceive opportunity, work and their place in the economy.

One visible outcome is a growing distance between some young people and the world of work. For those who do not see themselves thriving in a system increasingly oriented to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), or who struggle to find clear pathways into meaningful employment, disengagement can feel reasonable.

The phenomenon often described as "lying flat" should not be understood as a rejection of effort, but as a signal that pathways from education to work are not sufficiently inclusive.

Young people may seek balance and autonomy, but no society can afford long-term withdrawal from productive participation.

The response, therefore, should not be to criticize young people's attitudes, but to help them discover viable and motivating ways forward.

A practical solution could lie in early, structured exposure to work. Young people benefit from engaging with the real economy well before graduation. Legal, age-appropriate work — whether in family businesses, weekend jobs, summer employment or community enterprises — helps them develop responsibility, commercial awareness and confidence. Early work experience clarifies the connection between effort and reward, and reduces anxiety about future employment.

International experience is instructive. In the United States, many senior business leaders began working at 16, often in modest service roles such as flipping hamburgers at McDonald's or stocking shelves in retail stores. These jobs were not about status or salary, but about learning discipline, teamwork and customer orientation.

China can adapt this insight to its own context by encouraging local governments, schools and enterprises to expand structured work and internship opportunities for high school and undergraduate students.

Universities can play an important bridging role. At Duke Kunshan University, for example, summer institutes for high school and undergraduate students combine academic exploration with exposure to real world problem-solving, teamwork and applied learning. Such programs allow young people to test interests early, build confidence and better understand how education connects to society and the economy.

Government policy can further support this transition by incentivizing companies to offer supervised internships and by clarifying legal frameworks that allow the younger generation to work limited hours safely and constructively. These programs should emphasize mentor-ship and learning rather than cheap labor.

In today's world, scientific and technological capabilities are essential to national competitiveness. At the same time, societies also require leaders — CEOs, entrepreneurs and public decision-makers — to integrate technology with judgment, ethics, communication skills and a global perspective. These capabilities are not cultivated by technical training alone.

This reality has implications for families and education systems. Parents should resist forcing artistically inclined or creatively minded children into majors or careers that do not align with their strengths. Exploration is not inefficiency; it is discovery.

China's demographic trends add urgency to this task. With a shrinking working-age population, every young person's potential matters more than ever. Helping the young develop confidence, skills and a sense of economic belonging is not only socially responsible; it is strategically essential.

History shows that societies investing early in youth development reap long-term dividends. By integrating moral education, early work experience and opportunity in the digital era, China can ensure that young people are not left behind, but fully prepared to lead.

The author is American president, executive vice-chancellor and distinguished professor of social science at Duke Kunshan University in Kunshan, Jiangsu province.?The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.