Similarly, Wang Jinwei, 26, a graduate from Chaohu College, Anhui province, diverted from his expected career path to becoming a secondhand mobile phone trader in Dongguan, Guangdong province.

His business involves buying used phones in bulk by weight, meticulously sorting them by brand, components and condition, then supplying vendors in Huaqiangbei, one of the world's largest electronics markets, in Shenzhen.

His monthly intake fluctuates wildly, collecting anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 phones, and with profit swinging from 30,000 to 50,000 yuan ($4,200 to $7,000), to losses, demanding constant adaptation.

"Entrepreneurship has risks, and investment needs caution," said Wang, describing the paralyzing anxiety during slow periods as "facing a wall in front while a force pushes you from behind".

While acknowledging the grueling hours, often 10-plus daily, Wang values the autonomy. "The key difference is being a robot following orders versus life pushing you ... I enjoy the freedom," he said.

Wang admits his path, chosen impulsively for perceived greater opportunity, wasn't the most prudent. "If I went back, I'd probably find a job first and gain experience," he said. Yet, he finds no inherent waste in his degree for his current trade.

Almost 12 million people graduated from college in China last year, and the country's graduate job market remains highly competitive, meaning that some graduates have to diversify their options in the search for an income.

Tang Daisheng, a professor at the School of Economics and Management at Beijing Jiaotong University, said the reasons for more college graduates to choose blue-collar work include intense white-collar competition juxtaposed with the rise of flexible, digital-platform-enabled blue-collar opportunities offering tangible benefits.