China's New Office Trend: Look Busy, Stay Unemployed

A new "pretend-to-work" office has opened in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province - and it's exactly what it sounds like. For a small daily fee, people can show up, sit at a desk, use the Wi-Fi, eat lunch, and go home at the end of the day looking like they just finished a normal work shift.

They're not employed. But their families might think they are.

The idea has been gaining traction in cities like Beijing and Shanghai. The fact that it's now happening in a more industrial city like Taiyuan says something about how common this situation has become. The service costs around 30 to 50 yuan a day ($4 to $7), and some plans even include fake tasks, attendance records, or a "boss" to help complete the illusion.

The reason for this trend is simple: pressure. Staying home during the day in China - especially for younger people - raises a lot of uncomfortable questions. Are you working? Did you get fired? Why aren't you out doing something productive? For some, it's easier to just pretend.

Unemployment numbers tell part of the story. The national urban jobless rate was 5.3% in March, but youth unemployment was more than three times that at 16.5%. For recent graduates, it's even worse. Sectors like tech, real estate, and private education have all seen major job cuts in the past couple of years.

So instead of dealing with awkward conversations or worried parents, some people are paying a small daily fee to keep up appearances. They leave the house with a laptop, show up to one of these spaces, sit quietly for a few hours, and head home - just like they would if they still had a job.

It might sound odd, but for the people using these services, it beats the alternative. Having a routine is better than sitting at home all day. Being able to say "I'm going to the office" smooths things over. There's a market for that.

The bigger issue, of course, is the economy itself. These businesses don't offer jobs - they just offer cover. For now, that's enough. But the fact that demand exists for this kind of thing is a pretty clear sign of how tight the labor market is - and how hard it is for people to talk about being out of work.

Filed under: General Knowledge