A Breathing Space Amid China’s Youth Unemployment Crisis: The Rise of “Paid Study Rooms”

A Stifling Job Fair Scene. (Screenshot from Google)

According to People News, as China’s economic growth slows and youth unemployment rises, reaching 17.6% in September this year—the second-highest rate reported by the government this year—the trend of “paid study rooms” has gained significant popularity. The semi-monthly publication Banyuetan, under the state-run Xinhua News Agency, reports that these paid study rooms have rapidly emerged in recent years as comfortable reading environments, serving as a refuge for unemployed young people seeking relief from stress and a place to engage in “performative studying.”

The report reveals that “paid study rooms” have gained traction among young people preparing for civil service exams, public recruitment exams, or graduate entrance exams. According to the 2023-2024 China Paid Study Room Industry Development Status and Consumer Trend Survey Analysis Report, in 2022, 7.55 million people used paid study rooms, and that number is expected to exceed 10 million by 2025.

Paid study rooms across China operate on a “seat rental” model, with hourly, daily, monthly, or yearly fees. The seats come equipped with lamps, outlets, and lockers. Despite the high cost—about 500 yuan per month per seat, roughly half the living expenses of many unemployed youth—vacancies are still limited in many study rooms, with prime locations and more comfortable environments often fully booked. For many unemployed young people, these paid study rooms are like internet cafes to escape family scrutiny, where they engage in “performative studying” with little actual studying. Many say the constant pressure from family members discussing job prospects leaves them gasping for air, so they go to study rooms to temporarily escape the pressure. These study rooms also attract students from prestigious universities who, after repeated exam failures and loss of confidence, visit study rooms to deceive their parents into thinking they are studying, when in reality, they are just “passing the time as long as they can.”

The report quotes experts saying that the trend of young people going to study rooms to fake studying highlights the anxiety and confusion among unemployed youth. Through the mentality of “I am trying,” they try to mitigate their fear of an uncertain future. However, the report merely suggests that young people improve study efficiency, increase emotional support, and adjust their goals, without delving into the structural issues of a sluggish economy that contribute to high youth unemployment.

A Controversial Proposal: Renowned Professor Suggests Temporary “Relying on Parents” Post-Graduation

At the same time, facing economic stagnation and high unemployment, a renowned university professor has suggested that young people “temporarily rely on parents.” According to Taiwan’s Central News Agency, Professor Liang Yong’an from the Chinese Department of Fudan University in Shanghai recently proposed at a fall job fair that young people who have the means should “rely on parents” for three years after graduation, letting their parents provide some financial support to enable young people to explore the world.

This proposal immediately sparked public debate, with many netizens expressing disapproval. Some pointed out that, coming from rural backgrounds, they cannot rely on their parents, as returning home means doing farm work, which is not worthwhile. Others criticized the suggestion as shifting the social problem of unemployment onto parents, asking parents to finance their children, thereby turning a societal issue into a family matter.

(Adapted from Radio Free Asia)