Explainer | China’s ‘young seniors’ and ‘elderly youths’ mingle in internet slang as users poke fun at rat race
- China’s internet users have come up with several terms to make light of a challenging job market, alleviating stress through humour
- Expressions like ‘young seniors’, ‘elderly youth’, ‘full-time children’ describe unique quirks of employment and work in an economic slump
Here are some of the more popular terms they have employed to relieve the pressures of the rat race.
1. Young seniors/employable seniors
Those of an older age but relatively young – typically between 60 and 70 – who remain in the labour force, either by choice or by necessity.
Discussion of the phrase sprouted last week when Ma Jiantang, former party secretary of the Development Research Center of the State Council, stated at a forum that individuals aged 60 to 70 should be regarded as “young seniors” because of their good health and continued desire to work.
It reflects China’s lopsided demographic landscape, as the country’s dwindling birth rate and growing elderly population – a consequence of the decades-long imposition of a one-child limit – have exacerbated age imbalances and increased strain on the pension pool.
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2. Elderly youth/unemployable youth
Young adults of an older age, usually those aged 35 and above.
In 2017, during the rapid expansion of the Chinese internet, numerous firms implemented lay-offs targeting employees aged 35 and above, citing concerns that individuals in this age group lacked innovative drive and energy compared to their younger counterparts, despite receiving higher salaries.
This phrase evolved out of internet users’ replies to “Young seniors” and drew nearly 80 million views on Sina Weibo, China’s premier microblogging platform. Users expressed dissatisfaction with Ma’s remarks, saying they did not match the reality of many workplaces where those older than 35 are having a hard time securing employment.
3. Digital nomad
Individuals who have the flexibility to work remotely via the internet, enabling them to travel freely while staying employed.
The number of digital nomads has expanded rapidly since 2020, as pandemic-induced work from home policies allowed many to pull up roots and log in from anywhere.
As of the end of last year, the number of actual or potential digital nomads in China was estimated as between 70 million and 100 million in an April research report, with those born between 1981 and 2009 accounting for 58 per cent of the total.
They are mainly bloggers, illustrators, programmers and remote translators, according to a report issued by Renmin Luntan, the journal of central government mouthpiece People’s Daily.
Their major travel destinations are low-cost areas of the country like Lijiang in Yunnan province or Anji in Zhejiang province, both of which are known for their abundant natural scenery.
4. Partially retired
Young people using the interest accrued from savings to cover their daily expenses and start retirement early.
The use of “retired” reflects a lifestyle choice, rather than a total abandonment of the labour market. They deposit a set sum into banks or financial management tools while minimising their living expenses.
This enables them to cover basic necessities using interest, even if it amounts to a sum as tiny as 30 yuan (US$4).
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5. Full-time children
In April, the youth unemployment rate for those between the ages of 16 and 24 stood at 14.7 per cent, and unemployment for those aged 25 to 29 stood at 7.1 per cent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
The figure had peaked at 21.3 per cent in June 2023, before being temporarily suspended to allow time for China’s labour force statistics to be “further improved and optimised”.
