A growing trend has emerged in China where unemployed individuals seek solace in “pretend work” arrangements, renting office space and pretending to be bosses to escape the societal stigma of unemployment. According to a report by South China Morning Post (SCMP), for less than 30 yuan (over 350 Indian rupees) per day, these services provide temporary refuge for those who are reluctant to disclose their unemployment status to family members.
The report talked about a viral video from Hebei Province in northern China, showing a workspace rental service offering a daily price of 29.9 yuan, which includes access from 10 am to 5 pm with lunch. “For 29.9 yuan per day, you can ‘work’ here from 10am to 5pm, lunch included,” the promotion reads.
Another service, costing 50 yuan (about US$7), allows individuals to sit on a leather chair and pretend to be a “boss” for photos aimed at reassuring family members. The owner of the unused office space explained the motivation behind the idea: “Many big companies are laying off workers. I had a spare office and thought this could give unemployed people a space to stay and communicate.
The concept of “pretending to work” has received significant attention on social media on the mainland, with discussions garnering more than 100 million views. Reviews are mixed. While some users support the idea as a way to alleviate the psychological burden of unemployment, others criticize it as a form of escape that may hinder real efforts to search for work.
Unemployment remains a pressing issue in China, especially among young people. In June 2023, the unemployment rate for individuals between the ages of 16 and 24 reached a record high of 21.3%, prompting the government to temporarily stop releasing unemployment data. Later, officials recalibrated unemployment statistics, excluding students, resulting in a notable decline to 16.1% by November 2023.
Personal stories of individuals hiding their unemployed status are emerging across the country. Jiawei, a former e-commerce worker from Hangzhou, shared his experience after losing his job and moving back to live with his parents. He added: “Unemployment is exhausting, but I did not want to transfer that negativity to my family,” revealing that he maintained his old work routine to avoid raising suspicions.
Zhang Yong, a professor of social work at Wuhan University of Science and Technology, describes the “pretend to work” trend as a response to societal pressures. “Society puts a lot of pressure on people to succeed, and sometimes young people set their career expectations too high. The sudden shock of losing a job can lead to depression,” he explained.