האבטלה בסין מזנקת וחברות מציעות מקומות עבודה פיקטיביים תמורת תשלום

With more people out of work in China, a new trend is growing in cities like Beijing and Shanghai. Some companies are offering fake office spaces where unemployed people can spend time pretending to work. Let's zoom in. For a daily rental fee between $7 to $14, you get a desk, computer, Wi-Fi, drinks and even lunch. These fake office spaces have become a surprising hit in China. Though no one actually works there, everyone acts like they're busy. Reservations are pouring in. Most customers are young adults, many still living with their parents. For them, it's a way to keep a daily routine and avoid the stress of staying home without a job. So why is demand so high? The job market in China is extremely tough right now. There's even a saying among university graduates, once I graduate, I'm unemployed. Last summer was called the hardest time to find a job in China. But this year could be worse. Over 12 million students are set to graduate. That's 430,000 more than last year. Official numbers say China's youth unemployment rate is 14.9 percent. But a 2024 report from the country's biggest job platform found nearly 45 percent of college grads are unemployed. Peking University professor Zhang Dandan says the rate may have reached 50 percent in early 2023. With Beijing tightening control over public data, getting accurate independent numbers is harder than ever.