Every morning across major Chinese cities, thousands of men and women dress in business attire, grab their laptops, and step out the door as if heading to a demanding corporate job. In reality, they have nowhere to go.

Facing an increasingly tight labor market, economic headwinds, and intense social stigma, a growing number of unemployed workers in China are engaging in what is now widely known as the “fake commute”—leaving home in the morning and returning in the evening solely to hide their jobless status from parents, spouses, and relatives.

Inside the “Pretend Worker” Routine

Instead of spending eight hours in an office, these individuals spend their days quietly occupying public spaces:

• Public Libraries & Cafes: Quiet spaces where workers can open laptops, pretend to review documents, or search for jobs unnoticed.
• Parks & Shopping Malls: Free locations to kill hours during the day without attracting unwanted attention or spending extra money.
• Strict Schedules: Many stick strictly to traditional office hours—leaving before 9:00 a.m. and returning after 6:00 p.m.—to maintain a flawless illusion of employment.

For many, this daily deception is less about finding a new job and more about avoiding the intense emotional pressure, judgment, and anxiety imposed by family members who expect rapid career stability.

Real Stories Behind the Facade

The trend spans diverse sectors, from real estate to technology:

• Koko Lee (32): A former employee at a state-owned property company who left her position over six months ago due to excessive workload and lack of recognition. She keeps her unemployment secret from her mother, fearing her mother’s worry would trigger an endless cycle of shared anxiety.
• Susan Sun: After losing her job at an internet firm late last year, Susan kept her layoff hidden when her mother and stepfather moved to Chongqing to live with her. Leaving home every day between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., she survives on a modest monthly unemployment benefit of 1,864 yuan ($278 USD) alongside remaining severance pay.

Viral Social Media Trend

The phenomenon has struck a deep chord across Chinese digital platforms, proving that the trend is far from isolated:

• Xiaohongshu (Red Note): Content offering tips on how to spend full days away from home without spending money and how to handle awkward questions from relatives has generated over 70 million views.
• Douyin (China’s TikTok): Related video content and guides have surpassed 610 million views.
• Weibo: Topic hashtags surrounding the “pretend commute” have amassed more than 320 million views.

Economic Pressure, Automation, and the Social Contract

The surge in pretend commuting underscores broader economic shifts currently reshaping China’s labor market:

1. Property Sector Crisis & Debt: Prolonged downturns in the real estate sector and local government financial pressures have led to widespread layoffs and hiring freezes.
2. AI & Automation: Rapid adoption of artificial intelligence and industrial automation is displacing traditional roles across various service and technology sectors.
3. Saving Face & Social Stability: According to Diana Fu, Associate Professor of Chinese Politics at Cornell University, pretending to work allows individuals to maintain personal dignity (“save face”) while inadvertently absorbing collective social discontent. This buffer helps manage the delicate balance between technological advancement and social stability.

An Uncertain Future

While the fake commute offers temporary emotional relief, experts note that it is difficult to sustain long-term. As personal savings run out and with limited social safety nets available, many unemployed workers will eventually face the difficult choice between revealing their status to relatives or risking total financial exhaustion.

Source: How China’s Jobless Are Faking Office Hours to Fool Their Families | FP Explains (Firstpost)