New Trend in China: Renting Fake Offices to Look Employed

Light House Denver – A peculiar trend is emerging in China, where some individuals are renting fake office spaces to appear as though they are still employed. These services allow people to look busy, even pose as business owners, despite being unemployed.

According to Business Standard, the cost of using such services is only around 30 yuan per day (approximately IDR 68,000). One of these service providers is located in Hebei Province, northern China.

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Office Space, Free Lunch, and the Illusion of a Career

In a viral social media video, a rental office is shown offering workspaces available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., complete with free lunch. The main purpose is to help users appear “employed” and avoid questions or pressure from family members about their job status.

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There’s also a premium option for 50 yuan (about IDR 113,000), where clients can pose as the “boss” in a luxuriously furnished office, complete with a leather chair, for photos meant to impress on social media. The owner of the unused office space said the idea came in response to widespread layoffs across major companies in China.

The topic has generated significant buzz on social media, receiving over 100 million views. However, the business owner admitted that no real customers have visited so far.

Between Psychological Escape and Denial

Chinese netizens are divided over this trend. Some see it as a legitimate psychological coping mechanism, a way for unemployed individuals to feel “normal” during difficult times. Others criticize the practice as a form of denial that prolongs unemployment and discourages active job searching.

This trend in China has emerged alongside rising youth unemployment. In June 2023, the unemployment rate for those aged 16–24 hit a record 21.3%. The government later suspended the publication of the data and revised the calculation method by excluding students. As a result, the rate dropped to 16.1% in November 2023.

Mental Pressure and the Search for New Hope

The mental toll of unemployment is not unique to China. Around the world, people share similar experiences. These include stress from job loss, the discouragement of endless applications, and a growing sense of personal failure.

In such circumstances, renting a “fake office” might seem like a reasonable short-term escape. However, some netizens have encouraged turning these spaces into something more productive, using the quiet to build a portfolio, explore new opportunities, or even attend therapy sessions, rather than becoming trapped in a cycle of hopelessness.