In China, a rising trend among young unemployed individuals involves paying to work in “pretend offices,” where they can simulate job environments amid a challenging job market. With youth unemployment exceeding 14%, many young adults, like Shui Zhou, find it more appealing to pay for a workspace than stay home. Zhou, who previously ran a food business that failed, pays 30 yuan (about $4.20) daily to join others in an office setting equipped with computers and meeting rooms.
These spaces allow participants to work on job applications or personal projects while fostering a sense of community. Dr. Christian Yao from the University of Wellington notes that these setups help bridge the gap caused by economic changes and job market discrepancies.
Another participant, Xiaowen Tang, uses her paid office time as proof of an internship to meet her university’s requirements for graduation. The owners of these workspace setups, like Feiyu in Dongguan, emphasize offering dignity and a temporary solution to job-related frustrations. Although they view it as a social experiment, long-term viability is uncertain. Many users, including freelancers and recent graduates, see these spaces as a necessary means to maintain social norms while searching for genuine employment opportunities.
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