Is Computer Science Becoming the New Civil Engineering? A Deep Dive into China's Tech Job Market

1. China's Internet Golden Decade

From around 2011‑2012 to the recent years, the author describes this period as China's internet golden decade, when entering the industry could lead to rapid wealth, home ownership, and entrepreneurial opportunities, with abundant venture capital and easy access to seed funding for app prototypes.

Graduates often aimed to start companies, develop new technologies, or pursue PhDs, while only a few considered traditional employment. The market was highly speculative, with high salaries and low entry barriers, but also intense competition and volatility.

2. Talking About Civil Engineering

The author recounts his father's experience in the civil engineering sector, noting that during the 1980s‑1990s the field was not the most popular, but the massive infrastructure boom after the 2000s made it highly lucrative, allowing his father to buy multiple properties.

However, as China's construction needs have plateaued, civil engineering jobs have become scarcer, especially for older workers, and the sector no longer offers the same rapid growth as the earlier internet era.

3. How Is Computer Science Really?

The author argues that computer science remains a good career for those who love programming and problem‑solving, not merely for high salaries. While entry‑level jobs were once easy to obtain, the market has become more competitive, with higher interview standards and frequent layoffs in large tech firms.

Nevertheless, solid technical skills, project experience, and a realistic view of the industry can still secure stable employment, and those with deep expertise are less likely to be laid off.

4. Computer Science Remains One of the Best Majors

Despite the end of the internet golden era, the author believes computer science will continue to be a top profession for the next decade, with potential new technological revolutions (metaverse, general AI, brain‑computer interfaces, bio‑informatics) creating fresh opportunities.

Compared with other high‑earning fields such as finance, law, medicine, or semiconductor engineering, computer science still offers a favorable salary‑to‑effort ratio, especially for those willing to continuously learn and adapt.