China’s youth unemployment rate continues to climb, with fresh data from the National Bureau of Statistics showing a significant uptick in July. Among 16- to 24-year-olds not currently enrolled in college, the jobless rate rose to 17.8%, up from 14.5% the previous month. For 25- to 29-year-olds, the unemployment rate edged up to 6.9% from 6.7%.
In contrast, older workers aged 30 to 59 saw a slight improvement, with joblessness dropping to 3.9% from 4.0%.
Against this backdrop, a curious phenomenon is emerging in cities like Chengdu and Hangzhou: unemployed young people are paying to simulate the office experience. For around $4 a day, they can rent desks in so-called “fake offices,” complete with Wi-Fi, free snacks, and even mock interactions with pretend supervisors.
These spaces, popularized through platforms like Xiaohongshu and Douyin, are gaining traction not as novelty experiences but as coping tools in a difficult job market.
With youth unemployment so high, many are using these spaces to bring structure to their day, avoid family pressure, and maintain a sense of normalcy. Some spend the time refining their resumes, studying new skills, or simply relishing the routine of a 9-to-5 lifestyle without the stress of actual employment.
Far from being dismissed as absurd, these unconventional workspaces are being increasingly seen as a creative response to structural challenges. In a culture where employment is closely tied to identity and societal status, these “pretend offices” provide a way to stay motivated and emotionally anchored during uncertain times.
