In China, there’s a new trend where people who don’t have jobs can “pretend to work” by renting office space. This helps them hide their unemployment from family and friends. For just 30 yuan (about 350 INR) a day, these services give people a chance to feel like they are working again.
In one viral video, a service in Hebei province showed off a nice office that costs 29.9 yuan a day. People can use a workspace from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and even get lunch. Another service charges 50 yuan, allowing folks to sit in a fancy chair and take pictures to show their families they are “bosses.” The owner of this office said that many people are losing their jobs, so he wanted to help those who needed a place to stay and connect.
This idea of “pretending to work” has become very popular on social media, with over 100 million views. Opinions are mixed: some think it helps lighten the stress of being jobless, while others say it could stop people from trying to find real jobs.
Unemployment is a big issue in China, especially for young people. In June 2023, the unemployment rate for those aged 16 to 24 reached a high of 21.3%. The government even stopped sharing data about joblessness for a while. Later on, they changed how they counted unemployment, and it dropped to 16.1% by November 2023.
Many stories are surfacing about people who hide their jobless status. Jiawei, a guy who lost his e-commerce job, said he spent his days applying for jobs at a coffee shop but didn’t want to share his struggles with his family. He kept pretending to work by following his old schedule. Another person, Chen, was unemployed but didn’t tell his girlfriend. Instead, he used his severance pay to study for a civil service exam at a library.
Zhang Yong, a social work professor, explained that “pretending to work” is a response to the pressure to be successful. He said that losing a job can be shocking and lead to sadness. Zhang encouraged jobless people to talk to someone about their feelings and to plan for their future careers realistically. He stressed the importance of being honest with their families and having a positive mindset about work choices.
Leave a Reply