In response to stubbornly high youth unemployment in China, some young adults are opting to pay for access to mock offices where they can 'pretend' to work. This trend not only provides a semblance of structure but also allows participants to manage parental expectations and combat feelings of isolation.
The Rise of Pretend Workspaces Among Young Chinese Adults Amid High Unemployment
The Rise of Pretend Workspaces Among Young Chinese Adults Amid High Unemployment
As youth unemployment soars to over 14% in China, a new trend has emerged: young adults paying to work in 'pretend' office environments, creating a unique coping mechanism in a challenging job market.
Shui Zhou, a 30-year-old from Dongguan, epitomizes a new trend among China's unemployed youth: paying to work in a mock office environment. With youth unemployment in the country exceeding 14%, many young adults like Zhou have turned to companies like Pretend To Work Company, where they rent workstations to alleviate their feelings of idleness.
After the failure of his food business in 2024, Zhou began paying 30 yuan (approximately $4.20) per day for a spot in a workplace filled with like-minded peers. Rather than being home alone, he finds camaraderie among his "colleagues" who are also pretending to work. "It feels like we're working together as a group," says Zhou, who has now spent over three months in this unique workspace.
Mock office environments are proliferating in major Chinese cities. They resemble functional workplaces, complete with computers and internet access, and often provide meals and snacks. Participants are encouraged to use their time productively, whether searching for jobs or developing their own startups. "The phenomenon of pretending to work is now very common," noted Dr. Christian Yao, an expert on the Chinese economy. He points to the mismatch between education and job availability as a driving force behind this trend.
Finding their way to these spaces via social media, young adults are often able to convince family and friends that they are engaged in meaningful activity, thus improving their social standing. Xiaowen Tang, a 23-year-old graduate, utilized her time in a similar mock office to write online novels and fulfill her university's internship requirements by sending photos as proof of her 'employment.' "If you're going to fake it, just fake it to the end," Tang asserts.
According to Dr. Biao Xiang of the Max Planck Institute, this trend reflects a deep-seated frustration among young people in China, acting as a psychological buffer against feelings of inadequacy. The owner of Pretend To Work Company in Dongguan, Feiyu, argues that he sells his clients "dignity."
Despite initial success, he wonders about the long-term viability of such businesses, describing them more as social experiments than traditional revenue-generating ventures. There's a recognition that while these workspaces may be built on a façade, they provide psychological relief and a platform for genuine skill-building. Zhou, who is now focusing on improving his AI skills in hopes of enhancing his employability, shows that even amid the facade, young people are still seeking real paths to success.
