In cities across China, an unusual trend is emerging: unemployed young adults are paying to sit in offices where they “pretend” to work.
The phenomenon, which has gained traction amid China’s sluggish economy and stubbornly high youth unemployment rate of over 14%, offers a sense of purpose and community to those struggling to find jobs.
For 30 yuan ($4.20) a day, 30-year-old Shui Zhou joins five others at a mock office in Dongguan, about 114 km north of Hong Kong. Run by a business called Pretend To Work Company, the space looks and feels like a real workplace, complete with computers, internet access, meeting rooms, and tea breaks. “I feel very happy,” Zhou said. “It’s like we’re working together as a group.”
Rather than idly passing time, participants often use the facilities to job-hunt, build start-ups, or develop skills. Zhou, who lost a food business in 2024, spends his days improving his AI proficiency, hoping it will give him an edge with employers.
These mock workplaces have sprung up in major cities including Shenzhen, Shanghai, Nanjing, Wuhan, Chengdu, and Kunming. Fees typically range between 30 and 50 yuan, sometimes including lunch and snacks.
The business model resonates with people like Xiaowen Tang, 23, a recent graduate in Shanghai who rented a workstation for a month to satisfy her university’s requirement for proof of internship. In reality, she used the time to write online novels. “If you’re going to fake it, just fake it to the end,” she joked.
Experts say the trend reflects both economic pressures and psychological needs. Dr Christian Yao of Victoria University of Wellington calls it “a transitional solution” for young people facing a mismatch between their education and the job market. Anthropologist Dr Biao Xiang links it to “a sense of frustration and powerlessness” among China’s youth.
The Dongguan space’s owner, known as Feiyu, says the real product isn’t desk space—it’s dignity. Having experienced his own period of unemployment, he views the venture as a social experiment. “It uses lies to maintain respectability, but it allows some people to find the truth,” he said.
According to Feiyu, 40% of customers are recent graduates, many seeking photographs to convince parents or schools they are working. The rest are freelancers, including digital nomads and online writers. The average age is around 30.
Whether the concept is sustainable remains uncertain, but for people like Zhou, it offers a valuable lifeline. “I’m much happier than before,” he said. “This feels like a real starting point.”
