University Graduates Among 4,000 Vying for Spots at China’s First Barbecue Academy

The competition for spots at a vocational-level barbecue school in Hunan is a stark sign of job-market strain, said one economist.

Vendors prepare "braai" (barbecue) in Cyrildene, a Chinese district, during the Lunar New Year celebrations in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Feb. 8, 2025. Christian Velcich/AFP via Getty Images

As China’s economy struggles and job pressure remains high, even a one-month barbecue training course has become fiercely competitive.

More than 4,000 people applied for just 30 spots at Yueyang Barbecue Academy in Hunan Province, according to Chinese state-owned Chao News. The school, described as China’s first barbecue industry academy, opened enrollment on March 9 for an “advanced talent training class.” By the time registration closed on April 9, demand had far exceeded expectations.