College Students Returning to Hometowns for Employment and the Diversification of Agricultural Production Relations

This study examines the paradox of low return rates of rural-origin university graduates to their hometowns midst China’s rural revitalization strategy. Statistical analysis reveals persistently low willingness among graduates to pursue rural employment, attributed to urban-rural income gaps, limited professional alignment, and negative social perceptions. Critically, traditional smallholder farming structures constrain agricultural productivity and fail to attract skilled talent. To break this cycle, the research advocates for diversifying agricultural production relations. It proposes parallel development of large-scale operations and specialized smallholdings, alongside cooperative models and integrated value chains. Such structural reforms are essential to create high-value rural employment and align talent flow with modernization goals.