China unemployment: Millions pretend to work to hide job loss from families

A growing phenomenon in China involves unemployed individuals pretending to go to work every day to avoid family pressure and anxiety. Many leave home before 9:00 AM and return after 6:00 PM, spending their days in public libraries, parks, or shopping centers to maintain the illusion of employment.

This trend has gained significant traction on social media, with related content on Douyin amassing over 610 million views and RedNote seeing more than 70 million. Some individuals even utilize specialized services that charge between 30 and 50 yuan per day to help facilitate this pretense.

The issue is linked to broader economic challenges in China, including high youth unemployment rates which reached nearly 19 percent in August 2026. Factors contributing to job losses include a weak real estate market and massive layoffs in sectors like visual effects due to the integration of artificial intelligence.