Chinese shepherd job advert draws over 700 applicants amid labor market strains
The Story
A Chinese farm owner’s online recruitment drive for shepherds on an Inner Mongolia ranch attracted more than 700 applicants, highlighting pressures in China’s labor market. The advert went viral on social media, drawing interest from city dwellers tired of long work hours and difficult job conditions.
Key Facts
- Zuo Xiaoyong posted an advert on Chinese social media in late April seeking two shepherds, preferably a couple, to manage 3,000 sheep on a 2,000-hectare pasture.
- The salary is 8,000 yuan (about £880/$1,180) per person per month, with accommodation and groceries provided; this is above the national urban average of roughly 6,000 yuan for private company employees.
- The advert garnered around 59 million views on Weibo; more than 700 people applied.
- About 10% of applicants were recent university graduates; others included factory workers and white-collar professionals.
- China’s official unemployment rate is about 5.2%, while the youth rate (ages 16-24, excluding students) stands at 16.9% (National Bureau of Statistics, March).
- Zuo ultimately hired four shepherds (two couples) who had previously worked on a farm; he will not consider single people or young urbanites due to concerns about loneliness in the remote location.
- A factory worker applicant, 21-year-old James Guo, said he worked more than 13 hours a day and could no longer endure the workload.
Conflicting Reports
No conflicting reports identified in the source article.
Still Unclear
No open questions identified in the source article.
Misconceptions
No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.
Key Figures
- Zuo Xiaoyong – farm owner and recruiter
- James Guo – 21-year-old factory worker who applied for the shepherd role
Sources: The Guardian
