China Shepherd Job Draws 700 Applicants for 2 Roles as 12.7 Million Graduates Enter Market
Updated
Updated · Reuters · May 27
China Shepherd Job Draws 700 Applicants for 2 Roles as 12.7 Million Graduates Enter Market
3 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 27
More than 700 people applied for two shepherd jobs on a farm south of Mongolia, and owner Zuo Xiaoyong ultimately hired four workers—two couples with prior farm experience.
59 million Weibo views and 21,000 discussion threads turned the ad into a viral symbol of labor-market strain, drawing applicants from factory floors, big-city offices and recent graduates.
8,000 yuan a month plus housing and groceries beat the roughly 6,000-yuan urban private-sector average, even though the work involves tending 3,000 sheep on 2,000 hectares and winters below minus 30C.
Analysts say the frenzy reflects a cut-throat, low-reward job market marked by underemployment, long '996' hours and the spreading 'curse of 35' that sidelines older candidates.
12.7 million university graduates will enter the job hunt this summer as factories face higher Iran-war costs and AI adoption accelerates, pointing to further pressure on employment.
Why did a remote shepherd job become an escape fantasy for millions of China's overworked urban professionals?
With a record 12.7 million graduates, can China’s new safety net prevent a looming youth employment crisis?
Can China’s new laws shield workers from AI job losses amid a slowing economy and rising global instability?
From Urban Disillusionment to Rural Escape: How 21% Youth Unemployment and "Lying Flat" Are Reshaping China’s Workforce
Overview
In May 2026, a shepherd job ad in Ordos City, Inner Mongolia, went viral on Chinese social media, offering an attractive salary and drawing surprising interest from young urbanites and recent graduates. This unexpected enthusiasm revealed deep anxieties about youth unemployment and dissatisfaction with traditional urban careers. Many young people, facing fierce job competition and record-high unemployment rates, began seeking alternatives—even physically demanding rural work. The viral ad became a symbol of a generation rethinking their future, highlighting a growing desire to escape urban pressures and explore new paths amid China’s challenging job market.