China’s youth say no thanks to work as ‘soulless robots’, even amid bleak job prospects
- More than 200 million people in China work as freelancers, with more than 16 per cent of fresh graduates categorising themselves as such last year
- But the trend towards freelance work is also being driven by necessity, with young Chinese entering a dismal job market in a weakening economy
After graduating from university last year, Fang Yu chose a creative life defined by insecurity, rather than searching for a mind-numbing job in a field he did not care about.
The 25 year old plies his trade as a singer at different bars in eastern China’s Hangzhou city. It may not pay well, but at least he has his freedom.
“The educational requirements for various industries are increasing, so we’ve been left with fewer opportunities,” he said. “Instead of selling our lives to earn that money, I decided to do what I like.”
Many of Fang’s classmates have struggled to find jobs since graduating. The lucky ones who have are invariably working overtime – a “horrible” thought for a “free spirit” like him.
Survey results and interviews show many of Fang’s generation feel the same way.
More than 200 million people in China work as freelancers, with more than 16 per cent of fresh graduates categorising themselves as such last year, according to a report by iiMedia Research published in March.