China's unemployed youth use fake job offices to avoid stigma

Pretend workplaces emerge amid unemployment crisis

China's high unemployment has sparked a new phenomenon: "do-or-you-have-a-job" offices where people pay 4-6 euros daily to simulate employment. These spaces allow users to rent desks and maintain professional appearances amidst intense societal pressure linking success to social status.

Growing popularity nationwide

From Beijing to Guilin, these offices help users avoid family criticism. One advertisement states: "Avoid the shame of unemployment by coming here." Operators claim there's "nothing wrong with reassuring your family" through this pretense.

Divergent public reactions

Supporters argue these spaces provide routine, reduce stress, and foster networking. Critics call it self-deception and wasteful, suggesting funds would be better spent on skill development. Some offices enforce strict rules like punctuality and task completion to prepare clients for actual employment.

China's deepening unemployment crisis

Youth unemployment reached 21% in 2023 before the government stopped publishing data. Revised methodology now shows 14% unemployment among 16-24 year-olds (excluding students) as of June 2025. Official statistics consider working just one hour weekly as employed, masking true unemployment levels.

Root causes of the crisis

Economic slowdown and education-labor mismatches drive the problem. Annual university graduates surged from 7 million (2014) to 12 million (2024), creating intense competition for limited positions. Families' heavy investments in education amplify social pressure, making unemployment particularly stigmatizing.

Call for destigmatization

Both supporters and critics agree China needs to reduce unemployment stigma as joblessness becomes widespread regardless of qualifications or effort.