However, young Chinese say the measures do little to alleviate financial stress. Zhang, 32, and her husband Zhu Yunfei, both manicurists, decided to save before having a child. They were announced shortly after Zhang and Zhu learned they would be parents. - Incompatible with careers -Social demographer Yun Zhou warned that subsidies "often do not lead to any meaningful rebound in fertility". "For young Chinese women, especially young highly educated Chinese women, there is also this inherent concern about the pervasive gender-based discriminations in the labour market that is front and centre on their mind."

Source: Bangkok Post March 08, 2026 11:20 UTC