Story perspectives

Unemployed Youth Fake Jobs Amid China's 17.8% Unemployment Rate

9/9/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Xiao Ding, 30, pretends to work at a library in Shanghai and Hangzhou after being unemployed for 22 months.
After quitting her tech marketing job in 2023, she sent over a thousand resumes but only secured four interviews.
To maintain structure, she follows this routine while pressuring herself to find employment.
China's youth unemployment rate hit 17.8% in July, the highest in 11 months, affecting many graduates.
Other young adults are adopting similar strategies to navigate the tough job market.

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Story summary

Xiao Ding, 30, pretends to work at a library in Shanghai and Hangzhou after being unemployed for 22 months.
After quitting her tech marketing job in 2023, she sent over a thousand resumes but only secured four interviews.
To maintain structure, she follows this routine while pressuring herself to find employment.
China's youth unemployment rate hit 17.8% in July, the highest in 11 months, affecting many graduates.
Other young adults are adopting similar strategies to navigate the tough job market.