Young Chinese Enter Funeral Work as Population Ages
Wednesday, 2026/09/02155 words2 minutes1038 reads
Funeral studies are attracting more young Chinese people, even though death remains a social taboo for many families. Students are considering the work because an ageing population is expected to increase demand for funeral services over coming decades.
China had 4,794 funeral service institutions at the end of 2024, employing about 96,000 people, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Yet only 16 educational institutions offered funeral-related majors, up from five in 2022. The programmes teach skills ranging from embalming and cosmetology to funeral planning, cemetery design, and grief counselling.
Together, the courses produce about 1,000 graduates a year, while industry estimates point to an annual shortage of around 10,000 skilled workers. This gap makes the field look attractive to students seeking employment.
However, a job is not automatically secure or highly paid. Young workers must also manage families' grief, social prejudice, and the emotional demands of a role where mistakes can be deeply painful.
