![\"Office](\"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/China-is-facing-a-significant-issue-with-youth-unemployment-In.jpeg\"\/)
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<span>Image | Marc Mueller<\/span><\/code><\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nUpon graduation, a young person’s primary duty is to gain employment and become economically independent. In response to the competitive job market, some graduates adopt the concept of a \u00a0\u201cDeliberate Transition\u201d (\u6162\u5c31\u4e1a)\u00a0, allowing them time to explore their options while improving their skills through postgraduate study or temporary jobs. However, while some engage actively in job searching, others find it easier to maintain a fa\u00e7ade of productivity while actually seeking employment, as \u00a0\u201c\u5543\u8001\u201d\u00a0 (or “biting the old,” which translates to relying on parents) is socially frowned upon.<\/p>\n
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To navigate this societal pressure, unique companies have arisen in China, offering young graduates the opportunity to \u00a0rent office space\u00a0 to conduct their job searches. One such enterprise is the “Pretend to Work Company,” which charges approximately \u00a03.5 euros\u00a0 a day for access to an office resembling a traditional workplace, complete with computers and meeting rooms. These establishments are actively promoted on social media platforms like Xiaohongshu.<\/p>\n
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Individuals like \u00a0Shui Zhou\u00a0, a 30-year-old daily office-goer, report that this arrangement allows them to network, practice discipline, and alleviate family concerns about their employment status. “I\u2019m currently honing my skills with AI while pretending to work,” Zhou shares, illustrating the disconnect between societal expectations and personal realities.<\/p>\n
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Similarly, \u00a0Xiaowen Tang\u00a0, a recent graduate, has received pressure from her university to prove her employment within a year of graduation. \u201cIf I don\u2019t provide proof of my contract or internship, I won\u2019t receive my diploma,\u201d she states, revealing the stakes involved. She utilized her time at the rented office to take a photo for proof, highlighting the lengths graduates will go to fulfill expectations.<\/p>\n
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\n\n\n ![\"Workers](\"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755358966_661_China-is-facing-a-significant-issue-with-youth-unemployment-In.jpeg\")
\n ![\"Workers](\"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755358966_661_China-is-facing-a-significant-issue-with-youth-unemployment-In.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n <span>Workers in a smartphone factory | Image: Xataka<\/span><\/code><\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nAnother case involves a young woman, who has chosen to remain anonymous, sharing her experience of leaving a demanding financial job in 2024. She now frequents a rented office to avoid disclosing her employment status to her family. For approximately \u00a0400 yuan\u00a0 monthly, she can spend her days in a \u201clie office\u201d while actively searching for opportunities.<\/p>\n
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Dr. \u00a0Biao Xiang\u00a0, director of the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology in Germany, comments on this phenomenon, noting that \u201cpretending to work is a refuge that young people find for themselves.\u201d He emphasizes that this \u201clie\u201d grants them a buffer against societal pressure. The owner of the Pretend to Work Company echoes this sentiment, stating, \u201cWhat I sell is not just a job, but the dignity of not feeling useless.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\n\n\n\n <img alt=\"Relaxing at Work\" width=\"375\" height=\"142\" src=\"https:\/\/i.blogs.es\/205696\/ps---plantilla-portadas-xtk-177\/375_142.jpeg\"\/><\/code><\/pre>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nAs reported, nearly \u00a040%\u00a0 of the company’s clients are recent graduates seeking to fulfill their university requirements, while others utilize the space to escape family pressures. The average age of these clients is around \u00a030 years\u00a0, underscoring the growing trend among young adults.<\/p>\n
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The pandemic has placed significant strains on youth employment across China. Estimates suggest that the youth unemployment rate might have soared to \u00a046.5%\u00a0 in 2023. Such alarming circumstances have led authorities to remove systematic listings of youth unemployment figures, further obscuring the true scale of the problem. With \u00a012.2 million\u00a0 new graduates entering the job market, the likelihood of an increase in unemployment is concerning. The pressure on young individuals to secure employment is immense, prompting movements that critique traditional career ambitions.<\/p>\n
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Interestingly, the \u00a0\u201cLie Down\u201d movement\u00a0 (\u8eba\u5e73), translates to living with less ambition in contrast to the highly competitive norms that once defined work culture, such as the notorious \u00a0996 work schedule\u00a0. This shift promotes finding balance, prioritizing well-being over relentless ambition, advocating for a more moderate lifestyle, even if it means accepting lower-paying jobs.<\/p>\n
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The youth unemployment crisis in China requires immediate attention and innovative solutions. As students graduate into an uncertain landscape, striking a balance between societal expectations and personal growth becomes crucial in today’s fast-changing world.<\/p>\n