A growing trend in China has emerged as the unemployed seek solace in “pretend work” arrangements, renting office space and impersonating bosses to escape the social stigma of unemployment. According to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), for as little as 30 yuan (over INR 350) a day, these services provide temporary shelter for those unwilling to disclose their unemployment status to family members .

The report he was talking about, a viral video from northern China’s Hebei province, showed a workspace rental service offering a daily fee of 29.9 yuan, which includes access to 10 am to 5 pm along with lunch. The promotion read: “For 29.9 yuan a day, you can ‘work’ here from 10am to 5pm, lunch included.”

Another service, which charges 50 yuan (about US$7), allows people to sit on a leather chair and pose as a “boss” for photos meant to reassure family members. The owner of the unused office explained the motivation behind the idea: “Many large companies are laying off workers. I had a spare office and I thought this could give the unemployed a space to stay and network.”

The concept of “pretending to work” has attracted significant attention on mainland social media, with discussions amassing more than 100 million views. Opinions are mixed; while some users support the idea as a way to ease the psychological burden of unemployment, others criticize it as a form of escapism that can hinder genuine job-seeking efforts.

Unemployment remains a pressing problem in China, especially among young people. In June 2023, the unemployment rate for 16-24 year olds hit an all-time high of 21.3 percent, prompting the government to stop publishing unemployment data. Officials later recalibrated the unemployment statistics, excluding students, resulting in a drop to 16.1 percent in November 2023.

Personal stories of individuals hiding their unemployment status are emerging across the country. Jiawei, a former e-commerce worker from Hangzhou, shared his experience after losing his job and moving back in with his parents. “Being unemployed is stressful, but I didn’t want to pass that negativity on to my family,” he said, revealing that he maintained his old work routine so as not to arouse suspicion.

Zhang Yong, a professor of social work at Wuhan University of Science and Technology, describes the trend of “pretending to work” as a response to societal pressures. “Society puts a lot of pressure on people to succeed, and young adults sometimes set their career expectations too high. The sudden shock of losing a job can lead to depression,” he explained.