Hong Kong (CNN) Leon Li (27) previously worked for one of China’s largest IT firms, performing a vital yet unassuming role.
As an office employee, I worked tirelessly, organizing meeting schedules, compiling documents, and preparing whatever was required by my superiors.
However, he chose to resign in February of this year, leaving behind his stable position and good salary for a less demanding job as a cleaner.
“Every morning when my alarm rang, I could only envision a bleak future,” Li told CNN while reflecting on his time as an office worker.
Li is part of a growing trend of Chinese workers shifting from stressful office environments to more adaptable manual labor roles.
Many of these individuals previously held positions at some of the nation’s largest corporations.
However, as China’s economy encounters numerous challenges, including a real estate crisis, diminishing foreign investment, and declining consumption, these companies are gradually losing their allure.
Recent data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on the 15th indicated that China’s economic growth rate for the second quarter of 2024 (April to June) rose by 4.7% compared to the same period last year, which was below economists’ expectations and marked the lowest rate since the first quarter of last year.
Long hours and a labor shortage are prompting workers like Li to reevaluate whether it is worth sacrificing their time and well-being for a high salary.
“I enjoy cleaning. As living standards in China improve, the demand for cleaning services is also rising, and the market is expanding like never before,” said Li, who resides in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.
But more importantly, I feel more fulfilled than ever.
“The biggest change I’ve noticed since switching jobs is that I no longer feel dizzy. I experience less mental pressure. I’m filled with motivation each day,” Li stated.
Enough with the “996” work culture
Li is not the only white-collar worker who claims that transitioning from an office job to manual labor has enhanced her work-life balance.
Alice Wang (30, pseudonym used for privacy reasons) previously worked for a prominent Chinese livestreaming and online shopping platform, earning an annual salary of 700,000 yuan (around 15 million yen).
However, in April, she resigned, relocated from the picturesque IT city of Hangzhou to the quieter and more affordable city of Chengdu, and accepted a position at a pet salon.
China is notorious for its “996” work culture, where employees often work six days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. This practice is prevalent in the private sector, especially in the IT industry and startups, leading many employees to resign.
Previously, Wang dedicated most of her time to work, but she remembers feeling physically drained and having “no motivation at all.”
Now, however, she feels rejuvenated.
“I feel like I’m evolving in some way,” Wang said, currently training to become a groomer at the pet salon, with aspirations of one day opening her own salon. “That’s my long-term goal,” she added.
The trend of individuals moving from professional roles to manual labor is emerging as demand for blue-collar workers soars, as reported by Zhilian Zhaopin, a Chinese recruitment and job-hunting platform.
Leon Li, who left an IT company and is currently employed as a cleaner.
A June survey by Zhilian Zhaopin revealed that the demand for manual jobs such as food delivery drivers, truck drivers, waitstaff, and engineers was 3.8 times higher in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2019.
During the three years of COVID-19 lockdowns, the takeaway culture became firmly established, leading to an unprecedented 800% increase in the number of delivery workers.
Wages for manual labor are also on the rise, enticing more individuals to take up jobs that were once stigmatized.
As per a previous survey, the explosive growth of online shopping resulted in the average monthly salary of delivery workers increasing by 45.3% from 5,581 yuan in 2019 to 8,109 yuan.
However, for some college graduates, manual labor was never their initial employment choice.
As the economy slows, the full-time job market is becoming increasingly competitive, creating challenges for new graduates seeking employment.
The same survey found that the number of individuals under 25 seeking manual labor jobs rose by 165% in the first quarter of this year compared to 2019.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the unemployment rate for individuals aged 16-24 hit 21.3% as of June 2023. The bureau then paused the publication of these statistics for several months while revising its methodological calculations.
Authorities resumed providing these statistics in January this year but excluded approximately 62 million students, whom they claim are mainly focused on their studies rather than job hunting.
Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, is also a major commercial hub. Courtesy Leon Li
The National Statistics Office reported that the unemployment rate for 16-24 year-olds, who are about to enter the labor market, has fluctuated between 14.2% and 15.3% in recent months.
Traditionally, services, private companies, and small businesses have been the primary employment prospects for young Chinese workers, according to a research report by Macquarie economists Larry Hu and Zhang Yuxiao last year, but these sectors have been severely impacted by sluggish consumer demand.
David Goodman, director of the China Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, points out a disconnect between the graduates produced by universities and the skills needed in the job market.
Goodman noted that while China’s economy is evolving towards advanced technology, green technology, and services, its higher education system continues to emphasize outdated or oversaturated fields like manufacturing and public services.
“If our higher education system has not adapted—or hasn’t been encouraged to adapt—to the swift changes in our economic landscape, then we face a serious issue,” Goodman remarked.
Another pressure
Yet, some people question whether the stress-free environment envisioned by Li, Wang, and others genuinely comes with manual work.
A recent video that went viral on Chinese social media illustrated potential pitfalls: a barista at a cafe in Shanghai was seen expressing frustration at a customer threatening to file a complaint, leading him to throw coffee grounds at the customer and create a chaotic scene, igniting an online conversation about the challenges faced by service industry workers.
In China, negative reviews and complaints can be detrimental to businesses, as many consumers prioritize reputations on popular social media platforms like Little Red Book and Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok.
The anxiety surrounding public image puts immense pressure on low-wage employees, who often seek to avoid actions that may cast them in a negative light.
While some online comments criticized the barista for his unprofessional behavior, there were many more sympathetic responses.
“You not only have to handle complaints, but the pay is already low. If you’re getting squeezed from both the company and the customers, it might be best to just quit,” commented one user.
Nonetheless, for Li, who works six-hour shifts as a freelance cleaner, things have been going smoothly so far.
He has developed a strong rapport with his employer and expresses that every cleaning session brings him a sense of fulfillment that transcends mere employment.
“Customers are considerate and offer us water, order food for us during our lunch breaks, or provide us with meals. They often remind us to hydrate and take breaks,” Li said.
As of now, he has no regrets about leaving his corporate position.
“Even if I feel tired during the day, I can go home, have a meal, and do what I enjoy without feeling any extra mental strain,” Li shared.
From Corporate Stress to Manual Fulfillment: The Chinese Workforce’s Shift
Hong Kong (CNN) Leon Li (27) once worked for one of China’s largest IT companies, performing essential office duties such as arranging meeting schedules, compiling documents, and preparing materials for his superiors. However, in February, he made the significant decision to leave his stable job and lucrative salary behind to work as a visiting cleaner.
“Every morning when my alarm went off, I saw only a gloomy future ahead of me,” Li reflected on his days in the corporate world, indicating that many of his peers share similar sentiments.
The Rise of Manual Labor Employment
Li is not alone; an increasing number of Chinese employees are transitioning from high-pressure office roles to more flexible manual labor positions. As China’s economy grapples with numerous setbacks—such as a real estate crisis, diminishing foreign investment, and sluggish consumption—the appeal of traditional corporate jobs is waning.
Recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) highlighted that China’s GDP grew by only 4.7% in the second quarter of 2024, falling below economists’ expectations and constituting the lowest growth since early last year. Factors such as exhausting work hours and labor shortages are prompting workers like Li to rethink their priorities around time and health versus salary.
“I enjoy cleaning. With improving living standards in China, the demand for cleaning services is on the rise, and the market is expanding more than ever,” Li emphasized, also noting the sense of fulfillment that accompanies his new role. “The change I’ve noticed since switching jobs is that I don’t feel dizzy anymore. I feel less mental pressure and am motivated every day.”
Breaking Free from the “996” Work Culture
Many white-collar workers echo Li’s thoughts. Alice Wang (30, pseudonymous for privacy) left a prominent Chinese livestream shopping platform in April, where she earned an annual salary of 700,000 yuan (approximately 15 million yen). She relocated from the bustling IT hub of Hangzhou to Chengdu, a city renowned for its charming ambiance and affordable rent, to take a position at a pet salon.
The notorious “996” work culture in China, which mandates employees to work from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. six days a week, is being scrutinized as workers prioritize mental well-being over oppressive work environments. Wang recalled her previous extremely demanding work schedule, “I was physically exhausted and had no motivation at all. Now, I feel reborn.” She is currently training to become a groomer at her new job, aspiring to one day own her salon.
The trend toward manual labor is gaining traction, particularly as the need for blue-collar workers escalates. According to Zhilian Zhaopin, a Chinese recruitment platform, demand for manual labor roles such as food delivery drivers and engineers surged by over 3.8 times in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2019.
Key Statistics
| Job Type | Increase in Demand (2024 vs. 2019) |
|---|---|
| Food Delivery Drivers | 800% |
| Truck Drivers | Varied |
| Engineers | High |
| Waiters | High |
This shift is again evident in the wages of manual labor jobs. For instance, the average monthly salary for delivery workers skyrocketed by 45.3%, increasing from 5,581 yuan in 2019 to 8,109 yuan in 2024.
The Changing Landscape for Young Graduates
Despite these trends, manual labor is not always the first choice for college graduates. The economic slowdown has intensified competition in the job market, making it harder for fresh graduates to secure employment. A recent survey indicated a 165 percent increase in the number of individuals under 25 seeking manual labor roles in the first quarter of 2024 compared to 2019.
As reported by the National Bureau of Statistics, the unemployment rate for 16-24-year-olds was a staggering 21.3% as of June 2023. The statistics were only published again in January after adjustments, excluding around 62 million students perceived to be primarily focused on studies rather than job hunting.
Unemployment Rates Among Youth
| Age Group | Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|
| 16-24 | 21.3% |
| Overall Youth Employment | Fluctuated between 14.2% – 15.3% in recent months |
Traditionally, services, private sectors, and small businesses have been the major employment avenues for young workers; however, these sectors are currently suffering from dwindling consumer demand. David Goodman, from the University of Sydney’s China Studies Centre, pointed out a significant mismatch between the skills produced by universities and the actual needs of the job market.
Challenges in the Service Industry
Amid this transitional climate, the assumption that manual labor promises a stress-free refuge can be misleading. A recent viral video on Chinese social media showcased the frustrations of a barista in Shanghai, who lost control after a customer threatened to file a complaint. This outburst spotlighted the challenges faced by service industry employees, where complaints and adverse reviews can have dire consequences for businesses.
The fear of negative publicity can amplify pressures on low-wage workers, leading them to tread lightly to avoid unfavorable customer interactions. Comments on social media ranged from criticizing the barista’s rudeness to expressing sympathy for his challenging working conditions. “Not only do you deal with complaints, but your salary is also low. If you’re squeezed by both the company and the customers, quitting seems like the best option,” observed one social media user.
Nevertheless, Li reports satisfaction with his newfound role as a freelance cleaner, working six-hour days. His job has fostered positive relationships with employers and customers alike. He asserts, “Customers are considerate, often bringing us water or food during our breaks. They remind us to take care of ourselves.” For Li, leaving his corporate position has led to an influx of fulfillment. “Even if I’m exhausted during the day, I can go home, eat, and pursue my interests without additional mental pressure,” he stated.
Future Implications
The ongoing shift from corporate careers to manual labor for many Chinese workers reflects a broader transformation in the national economy and societal values. As workers prioritize mental wellness and life satisfaction over traditional measures of success, employers may need to rethink their practices to attract and retain talent in a rapidly changing job landscape.
