Viral Chinese Shepherd Job Ad Highlights Growing Labour Market Challenges
A job advertisement by Chinese farm owner Zuo Xiaoyong seeking two shepherds in remote grasslands south of Mongolia received over 700 applications and 59 million views on Weibo. Applicants included factory workers, office employees, and recent graduates from major cities like Shanghai and Chongqing. The viral response highlights growing labour market challenges in China, including long working hours, wage stagnation, underemployment, and increasing job insecurity amid economic pressures and a record number of university graduates entering the workforce.