Class, gender and educational privilege: exploring employability of Chinese international graduates through a risk society lens

International education is framed by middle-class families in China as a form of risk management – an investment for enhancing employability in a heavily congested graduate job market. However, there is limited research on the relationship between international higher education and occupational advantage. This study presents survey findings from Chinese master’s level graduates educated both internationally and domestically. The results shows that international graduates tend to have more prestigious educational backgrounds, however they face higher early-career unemployment. The risk society lens helps to explain why international education does not yield predictable or favourable returns. These graduates represent a new risk class – individuals who, despite privileged educational capital, are exposed to the uncertainties of globalisation and local labour market stratification. Their social advantage, while still significant, no longer ensures linear upward mobility. Instead, outcomes are fragmented, dependent on navigating a complex employment landscape shaped by sectoral preferences, and institutional discrimination, especially against women.