In the bustling metropolises of China, a peculiar trend is emerging among Generation Z amid soaring youth unemployment rates that have hovered around 20% in recent months. Young adults, fresh out of universities and facing a job market squeezed by economic slowdowns and overqualification, are turning to “fake offices” where they pay modest fees—often around $4 to $7 per day—to simulate employment. These spaces, equipped with desks, computers, and even mock meetings, allow participants to maintain the facade of a productive workday, primarily to appease concerned parents and avoid societal stigma.

This phenomenon isn’t just about deception; it’s a symptom of deeper frustrations. Participants dress in business attire, commute during rush hours, and engage in activities like browsing job listings or networking, all while evading the harsh reality of joblessness. As one anonymous user shared in posts on X, these setups provide a “quiet coping mechanism” to mask economic despair, echoing sentiments from thousands of similar online discussions.

The Rise of Pretend Productivity in a Stagnant Economy

The concept gained traction earlier this year, with companies in cities like Shanghai and Beijing advertising such services on social platforms. According to a report from Fortune, published just hours ago, these faux offices cater to Gen Zers who, much like their American counterparts, grapple with underemployment despite holding degrees. The article details how users might spend their time applying for real jobs or simply scrolling, but the core appeal lies in preserving family harmony—many live with parents who equate idleness with failure.

Interviews in the piece reveal personal stories, such as a 24-year-old graduate who pays 30 yuan daily to “work” in a shared space, complete with coffee breaks and casual chats that mimic office banter. This mirrors broader data from China’s National Bureau of Statistics, which reported youth unemployment peaking at 21.3% last year, fueling desperation.

From Lying Flat to Rat People: Evolving Forms of Protest

This fake work trend builds on earlier movements like “lying flat,” where young people rejected grueling work cultures by doing the bare minimum. Now, it’s evolving into something more reclusive, epitomized by the “rat people” label. As explored in a May article from Fortune, rat people proudly embrace a rodent-like existence—holing up in beds for days, doom-scrolling, and shunning societal expectations. It’s a rebellion against burnout, with experts calling it a “quiet protest” against unattainable jobs.

Similar insights appear in Business Insider, which notes how rat people reject even the minimal effort of lying flat, opting instead for total withdrawal. Posts on X amplify this, with users sharing memes of “rat life” as a badge of honor, garnering tens of thousands of views and favorites.

Societal Pressures and Economic Underpinnings

At the heart of these trends are intense familial and cultural pressures in China, where success is often measured by stable careers. A BBC News feature from two days ago profiles individuals like Shui Zoou, who commutes to a pretend office to dodge questions from relatives. The report highlights how high unemployment—exacerbated by post-pandemic recovery woes and tech sector layoffs—pushes youth into such extremes.

Economists point to structural issues: an oversupply of graduates versus available white-collar roles, compounded by slowing GDP growth projected at 4.5% for 2025. As one X post from influencer Jennifer Zeng described, these “pretend-to-work companies” have surged, with viral videos showing daily routines of faked employment to fool parents.

Global Echoes and Potential Long-Term Impacts

This isn’t isolated to China; similar sentiments ripple globally, with U.S. Gen Z posting “unemployment era” TikToks, as noted in a July piece from Fast Company. Yet in China, the scale is amplified by one-child policy legacies, heightening parental expectations. Experts warn that prolonged disengagement could widen inequality and stifle innovation.

For industry insiders, this signals a need for policy shifts—perhaps vocational training or startup incentives—to reengage youth. Meanwhile, as rat people and fake officers proliferate, they underscore a generation’s quiet defiance, challenging the very notion of productivity in a faltering economy.

Looking Ahead: Innovation or Despair?

Innovative responses are emerging, like apps connecting fake workers for real networking. But without systemic fixes, as Yahoo News suggests in its coverage of the rat people movement, this could evolve into a broader social crisis. Recent X discussions, with over 100,000 views on related threads, debate whether it’s empowerment or escapism, hinting at a cultural shift that businesses and policymakers must address.