China Launches Campaign to Streamline Graduate File Transfers
China’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS) has launched a nationwide special campaign to streamline the transfer and reception of graduate personnel files for the Class of 2026, aiming to improve employment services for what is projected to be the largest graduating class in the country’s history. The campaign, running from mid-June to October 2026, targets an estimated 12.7 million university graduates — an increase of 480,000 from 2025, according to the Ministry of Education.
Background: The Personnel File System
The campaign addresses a longstanding administrative challenge within China’s unique “dang’an” (档案) personnel file system. These comprehensive dossiers track an individual’s education, employment history, political affiliation, and disciplinary record, and are critical for career progression — particularly in government, state-owned enterprises, and public institutions. Historically paper-based, the system has created friction for China’s increasingly mobile workforce, with graduates often facing confusion about how and where their files should be transferred after leaving university.
As Xinhua News Agency reported, the campaign was formally launched through MOHRSS Document No. 人社厅函〔2026〕72号, issued on June 8, 2026. The initiative builds on previous policy efforts, including MOHRSS Document No. 人社厅发〔2023〕20号, which established baseline rules for graduate file transfers.
Five Key Work Areas
The campaign focuses on five priority areas designed to modernize and standardize the file transfer process:
Policy Promotion: Local authorities are required to publicize file policies before graduation, publishing lists of file management service agencies and their procedures to raise awareness among both employers and graduates.
Standardized Reception: The campaign calls for coordinated efforts between universities, postal services, and government agencies to efficiently process file screening, organization, and archiving, implementing commitment-based systems where appropriate.
Digital Information Collection: A major push is underway to accelerate the digitization of personnel files and upload them to the National Mobile Personnel File Basic Information Resource Database, marking a significant step toward a fully digital system.
Service Quality Improvement: Authorities are working to implement “one-stop” employee onboarding services, build provincial centralized systems, and enable cross-provincial file transfer services — a critical feature for graduates moving between provinces for employment.
Security Management: The campaign emphasizes regular inspections, strengthened security controls for key processes, and enhanced data security measures to protect sensitive personal information.
Where Do Graduate Files Go?
According to an official from MOHRSS’s Department of Human Resources Flow Management, as cited by CCTV News, the destination of a graduate’s file depends on their employment situation. Those joining government agencies or state-owned enterprises have their files transferred directly to their employer. Graduates working in the private sector, freelancing, or starting their own businesses can have their files held by public employment and talent service agencies at or above the county level. Unemployed graduates may choose to keep their files with their alma mater for up to two years or transfer them to their registered residence location.
China Daily reported that local file management service agencies will set up dedicated service windows and hotlines to support graduates throughout the process.
Broader Context: Record Graduate Numbers
The campaign is part of a broader government response to record-high graduate numbers, which have placed significant pressure on China’s job market. It complements other initiatives under the “2026 Graduate Employment Expansion and Quality Improvement Action” announced by the Ministry of Education in November 2025. In March 2026, Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang chaired a national video conference on graduate and youth employment, emphasizing the need for “high-quality and full employment.”
Analysis and Implications
The campaign represents a significant administrative modernization effort. By standardizing and digitizing the file transfer process, the government aims to reduce bureaucratic friction at a critical transition point in graduates’ lives. The emphasis on cross-provincial interoperability and “one-stop” services reflects a broader trend in Chinese public administration toward integrated, user-centric service delivery.
However, implementation challenges remain. The sheer scale — 12.7 million graduates — presents logistical hurdles, and service quality may vary significantly across provinces and localities. Graduates employed in the private sector or pursuing self-employment may still face confusion about file management, and data security concerns accompany the push toward centralized digital storage.
What to Watch For
As the campaign unfolds through October 2026, observers will be watching for measurable outcomes: Will processing times decrease? How effectively will cross-provincial transfers work in practice? And will the digital infrastructure hold up under the strain of millions of simultaneous file transfers? The answers will inform whether this campaign becomes a template for future graduating classes.
Graduates seeking information about their files can check with their university, query the National Government Service Platform for Human Resources and Social Security, or contact local personnel file management service agencies directly.