A girl holds a calf at a breeding farm in Chongqing, China.
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Tired of China's employment situation, young people from the mainland are retreating to the countryside.
China's Gen Z and Millennials are increasingly documenting their daily “retirement” lives in rural areas on social media after announcing they have been fired, resigned or simply unemployed. These Self-proclaimed “retirees” They often claim to be born in the 1990s or 2000s in their profiles and post about their career interruptions or unemployment experiences online.
Last year, a 22 years old, self-proclaimed retiree The man who goes by the pseudonym Wenzi Dada settled in a bamboo shack on the edge of a cliff in China's mountainous Guizhou province. Wenzi has worked in a variety of jobs including auto repair, construction and manufacturing tell local media Tired of dealing with machines every day, he resigned and returned to his hometown. He tried to find a job there but was unhappy with the options.
“As time goes by, I begin to think about the meaning of life. Life is not only the prosperity of the city, but the tranquility of the countryside is also a kind of beauty.” According to a netizen, he wrote on his Douyin profile. Douyin is the sister app of ByteDance's TikTok and is tailor-made for the Chinese market.
After moving to the mountains, Fumiko uploaded videos on his Douyin account showing how he cooked, harvested vegetables and maintained his mountaintop hut.
It is not surprising that young people choose to “retreat” or “retire” to the countryside, because it has become very difficult to find a job, especially a good job in first-tier cities.
Zhong Zhinian
Professor, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Chung Chin-nian, a chair professor at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, said that with China's economy in trouble, it is especially difficult for young people to find jobs.
one Record 11.8 million college graduates The professor explained that entering the labor market this year, competition has intensified, causing a “devaluation” of university degrees. For individuals with less qualifications and experience, this further reduces their chances of being hired.
ChinaYouth unemployment hit a new record of 18.8% in August, the highest level since the new record-keeping system began in December. This is up from 17.1% in July. The latest data comes as China sends a series of disappointing economic signals, while the world's second-largest economy continues to be plagued by weak domestic demand and a sluggish real estate sector.
“If you combine these factors, it is not surprising that young people choose to 'retreat' or 'retire' to the countryside because it has become very difficult to find a job, especially a good job in first-tier cities,” Zhong said. .
Popular holiday destinations include Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan, where the cost of living is only a quarter of Shanghai's.
Not their ideal job
Wang Dan, chief economist at Hang Seng Bank China, said that over the past three years, high value-added service industries that used to attract a large number of fresh graduates have shrunk sharply, especially the real estate and financial industries. Wang said that although there are lower-paying jobs in the city such as delivering goods or hailing rides, educated young people don't want these jobs and would rather sit on the sidelines.
There are jobs in manufacturing, but Jin Keyu, associate professor of economics at the London School of Economics, said young people don't want those jobs either.
“They would rather sit at home with their parents and wait for better jobs,” she said.
Chinese young people are planting rice in the fields.
VCG | Visual China Group | Getty Images
But China's young “retirees” push back against criticism that they are too picky or give up.
“This is not called lying down, this is called preparing for retirement in advance so that you can enjoy your old age in peace.” 22-year-old Wenzi said in a post uploaded in April.
in his videoshe relayed how other villagers criticized his lifestyle and compared him to his peers who were gainfully employed.
“Who stipulates that young people must go out to work?” Fumiko shouted.
Hang Seng Bank (China)'s Wang said such accusations, although unfair, are understandable within Chinese social culture and context.
“They are rebuked because Chinese people tend to think that whoever gets higher education must use it later and work hard,” the economist said, adding that education is often a household factor in addition to housing. largest investment outside.
Wang noted that many of these young people do have some income, turning to e-commerce or trying to become social media influencers. The countryside can be a good environment in which to run these businesses, as the natural backdrop and relaxed lifestyle can attract an audience.
Teen nursing home?
Other agencies have seized on the unemployment trend and responded proactively, with a growing number of reports “Youth Nursing Home” Report locally and social media.
These Youth Nursing Home Positioning itself as a facility where young people can check in and “lay down” at any time and often turning guests away Over 45 years oldSaid a youth nursing home founder.
While experts told CNBC it could be a marketing stunt, the popularity still reflects Gen Z and Millennials' sense of distress and desire for a slower-paced lifestyle.
This reverse migration is also unlikely to be a long-term trend. Temporary at best… In the long run, the ultimate goal for these children is still to return to the city.
and money
Chief Economist, Hang Seng Bank China
“Young people experiencing high levels of stress or feelings of hopelessness are looking for a place to reflect and potentially readjust their lives, driving the demand for 'primary nursing homes,'” said Jia Miao, an assistant professor at NYU Shanghai. She added, It’s positive that the market is diversifying to meet the needs of these young people who want space to breathe and recover.
But how long can this wave of “retirement” and “nursing home” journey last?
While China's countryside will continue to be a good rest and refuge for the urban unemployed, these young Chinese may not stay in the countryside for long. Wang said rural China cannot offer the modern, middle-class lifestyle that young Chinese crave, let alone high-quality medical care and education.
“This reverse migration is also unlikely to be a long-term trend. It is temporary at best… In the long run, the ultimate goal of these children is still to return to the city,” she said.