Young Chinese Getting Paid to be Full-Time Children Due to Soaring Unemployment

China grapples with a surge in youth unemployment and economic challenges post-Covid recovery, a new social phenomenon is taking shape – the rise of “full-time sons and daughters.”

Tens of thousands of young people are choosing to stay home, supported by their parents, to avoid the pressures of the job market and to seek a simpler life away from intense competition.

Litsky Li, a 21-year-old high school graduate and former photographer, is one of the many young adults who have embraced this lifestyle.

Rather than succumb to the pressure of succeeding in a competitive career, Li now spends her days caring for her grandmother, who has dementia, and running errands for her family. In return, her parents pay her a monthly salary of Ksh 119,620 which is considered the average middle-class wage in her area.

“The reason why I am at home is because I can’t bear the pressure of going to school or work,” said Li, a high school graduate.

“I don’t want to compete intensely with my peers. So I choose to ‘lie flat’ completely,” she adds.

Li’s decision is not an isolated case. The jobless rate for young people between 16 and 24 years old in urban areas hit a record high of 21.3% last month in China.

Many of those who identify as “full-time sons and daughters” on social media platforms like Douban cite the inability to find work as the primary reason for their choice.

However, the problem may be even more significant than official data suggests. Zhang Dandan, an associate professor at Peking University, believes that if the approximately 16 million young people “lying flat” or depending on their parents for financial support were included, the true youth unemployment rate could be as high as 46.5%.

The trend of “full-time sons and daughters” has sparked discussions on social media platforms, with groups dedicated to sharing experiences and insights on leading a simpler life.

These young individuals, mainly in their 20s, distinguish themselves from the previous generation known as “ken lao zu” or “the generation that eats the old,” who pursued careers at the expense of family time.

Sociologists attribute the rise of this phenomenon to the traumatic experiences China endured during the Covid-19 pandemic. Many are reevaluating their life goals and seeking more meaningful connections with family members.

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While the support provided by parents may offer temporary relief, experts warn that it may not be a sustainable solution.

Nancy Chen, a 24-year-old “full-time daughter” from Jiangxi province, is facing fierce competition in her job search, with thousands of applicants vying for just a few positions.

Economist George Magnus cautions that if young people remain out of the labour market for an extended period, they may become unemployable, lacking the necessary skills and training to compete effectively.

Experts believe that the “full-time sons and daughters” trend may be a short-term response to economic challenges, but it is unlikely to be a long-term solution for the country’s job market woes.

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In the pursuit of a simpler life, it is essential for young individuals to strike a balance between spending quality time with their loved ones and actively pursuing meaningful employment opportunities.

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