August 13, 2025

Imagine sitting at a desk from morning till late at night, pretending to work in an office that’s just for show. Welcome to Dongguan, China, where 30-year-old Shui Zhou does just that. Zhou spends his day sipping tea, chatting with "colleagues," and even staying late — all while paying 30 yuan ($4.20) a day for this pretend job, says BBC. Sounds strange? It’s a new reality for many young Chinese adults facing a tough job scene with youth unemployment over 14%. These "fake offices" look real with desks, computers, Wi-Fi, snacks, and meeting rooms, but no actual bosses, work duties, or salaries. Participants bring their laptops to job hunt, work on side jobs, or simply cling to a daily routine. Some even use the office to hide their unemployment from family or universities. Zhou, who lost his food business last year, shared, "I feel very happy. It's like we're working together as a group." Since April, he visits the Pretend To Work Company’s space in Dongguan. Other cities like Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, and Wuhan have popped up with similar places. The goal? Escape joblessness isolation and keep the dignity of routine alive. The office becomes a lively place full of chats, jokes, games, and even group dinners. Zhou says this team building made him "much happier than before." Experts say this weird trend points to a bigger problem: the gap between highly educated youth and a slowing economy. Dr Christian Yao from New Zealand explains, "The phenomenon of pretending to work is now very common," because young people need time and space to plan or manage odd jobs. For 23-year-old Xiaowen Tang in Shanghai, these offices are a lifesaver. Her university demands proof of internship or employment for graduation. So, she rented a desk, clicked photos for official proof, and wrote online novels to earn money. Tang jokes, "If you're going to fake it, just fake it to the end." The founder of Pretend To Work Company, who calls himself Feiyu, sees his business as a "social experiment." He said, "What I'm selling isn't a workstation, but the dignity of not being a useless person." He adds that while it’s a "gentle deception," the goal is to help people turn this fake start into a real future. About 40% of clients are recent grads faking internships, and 60% are freelancers or digital nomads, mainly in e-commerce or writing, mostly around age 30. Chinese officials call these types of workers "flexible employment professionals," including drivers and gig workers. For a small fee of 30 to 50 yuan ($4–$7) daily, youth can access Wi-Fi, drinks, snacks, and a workspace that gives them back a sense of normal life and pride—even if it’s just pretend.

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Tags: China, Fake office, Youth unemployment, Pretend to work company, Job market, Economic crisis,