University students in small and medium-sized cities are facing numerous difficulties and challenges when seeking local employment, including the continuous expansion of population mobility, an imbalance between local job market supply and demand, a poor alignment between local industrial development policies and the qualifications of graduates, regional biases and limitations in family cognition. These difficulties stem from the combined effects of various factors such as economy, politics, socio-culture, family, and individual development. To effectively promote local employment for university students in small and medium-sized cities, it is necessary to establish a diverse dynamic mechanism involving government, universities, enterprises, families, and students,?strengthen policy incentives and support, optimize the layout of industrial structure, enhance employment guidance services, and foster emotional and cultural identity. This will strengthen the “security force”, “bearing capacity”, “guiding force”, and “cohesive force” of local employment for university students, thereby increasing their willingness and success rate of local employment, and subsequently promoting the high-quality development of local economy.