As youth unemployment in China surpasses 14%, an emerging trend sees unemployed young adults paying to pretend to work in simulated office environments, creating a sense of community while they search for actual jobs.
Young Chinese Adults Choose Office Facades Over Joblessness
Young Chinese Adults Choose Office Facades Over Joblessness
In the face of persistent unemployment, many young Chinese citizens are paying to work in mock offices to regain structure in their lives.
In a unique response to China's dire economic situation, young adults are opting to pay for office space in mock workplaces, rather than remain idle at home. This phenomenon has emerged as youth unemployment rates have risen above 14%, creating a market for "pretend offices" where individuals can feel a sense of purpose and community.
Shui Zhou, a 30-year-old from Dongguan, turned to the "Pretend To Work Company" after facing failures with his food business in 2024. For 30 yuan (approximately $4.20) per day, he now joins others in a space resembling a fully functional office equipped with technology and meeting areas, where they can either apply for jobs or work on personal projects. Zhou, after three months at this setup, claims to feel happier and more productive, enjoying the camaraderie with fellow attendees who he considers friends.
Business owners behind these facilities, like Feiyu, 30, who previously faced unemployment himself, provide more than just workstations; they offer a façade of dignity and purpose. Many attendees, including fresh graduates and freelancers, use these spaces as a stopgap to reassure their parents and gain transferable skills.
Experts caution, however, that while this practice offers temporary relief from the pressures of unemployment, it may not be sustainable in the long run. Some believe the model functions as a form of social experiment. Feiyu himself emphasizes that while they might help prolong the act of “working,” they also aim to convert this façade into real opportunities for growth and employment in the future.
As trends like these develop, individuals like Zhou increasingly focus on enhancing their skill sets, with an eye towards the future and the need for adaptability in a rapidly changing job market.
Shui Zhou, a 30-year-old from Dongguan, turned to the "Pretend To Work Company" after facing failures with his food business in 2024. For 30 yuan (approximately $4.20) per day, he now joins others in a space resembling a fully functional office equipped with technology and meeting areas, where they can either apply for jobs or work on personal projects. Zhou, after three months at this setup, claims to feel happier and more productive, enjoying the camaraderie with fellow attendees who he considers friends.
Business owners behind these facilities, like Feiyu, 30, who previously faced unemployment himself, provide more than just workstations; they offer a façade of dignity and purpose. Many attendees, including fresh graduates and freelancers, use these spaces as a stopgap to reassure their parents and gain transferable skills.
Experts caution, however, that while this practice offers temporary relief from the pressures of unemployment, it may not be sustainable in the long run. Some believe the model functions as a form of social experiment. Feiyu himself emphasizes that while they might help prolong the act of “working,” they also aim to convert this façade into real opportunities for growth and employment in the future.
As trends like these develop, individuals like Zhou increasingly focus on enhancing their skill sets, with an eye towards the future and the need for adaptability in a rapidly changing job market.
