In a unique response to China's spiraling youth unemployment rate, which recently surpassed 14%, some young adults have found an unconventional solution: paying to 'pretend to work' in mock offices. The trend has caught on particularly among those who feel disheartened by the lack of legitimate work opportunities in a sluggish economy.
Shui Zhou, a 30-year-old who faced the closure of his food business in 2024, is one such individual. In April 2023, he began paying a daily fee of 30 yuan (approximately $4.20) to access a mock office operated by the Pretend To Work Company in Dongguan. There, he enjoys a supportive environment alongside four others similarly navigating unemployment.
These faux workplaces resemble real offices, complete with modern amenities like computers, internet access, and meeting rooms. For many attendees, it's less about the simulated employment and more about the communal aspects of working together. "I feel very happy," Zhou expressed, highlighting the camaraderie formed amongst participants while helping each other pursue job leads or entrepreneurial endeavors.
The practice is gaining traction in major urban areas, from Shenzhen to Shanghai, as the economic environment pushes young adults to seek out creative solutions to combat their feelings of isolation and frustration. Academic experts, like Dr. Christian Yao from Victoria University of Wellington, note that these pretend offices serve as transitional spaces where young people can strategize their next career moves.
Xiaowen Tang, a 23-year-old university graduate, also engaged with a pretend work company in Shanghai to meet her school’s expectations for employment proof before graduation. While working at the office, she produced online fiction and used the workspace as an internship substitute. “If you're going to fake it, just fake it to the end,” Tang quipped regarding the situation.
Feiyu, the creator of the Pretend To Work Company, emphasizes that he isn't just providing office space; rather, he is offering a form of dignity to clients who fear being seen as failures due to unemployment. This sentiment resonates strongly with many who feel disempowered by the current job market.
While the long-term sustainability of these businesses remains in question, Feiyu envisions them as social experiments that go beyond mere deception. His goal is to help participants transform their experiences at these mock offices into real employment opportunities, even as he acknowledges the mirror society these setups hold to the struggles of today’s job seekers. "If we only help users prolong their acting skills," Feiyu reflected, "we are complicit in a gentle deception."
As the trend continues to spread, many like Zhou are honing new skills in areas such as artificial intelligence, positioning themselves better for future job applications. Still, the Pretend Work phenomenon remains a complex illustration of today's economic landscape, blending aspiration, social connection, and the harsh realities of modern unemployment.
