The job crisis in China is so deep that hundreds of youth gathered for the job of shepherd.

Beijing. Rising unemployment in China, stressful work culture and financial pressure have started pushing youth towards such jobs which were never even imagined. The situation has changed so much that now even the educated youth working in the metros are ready to go to the villages and graze sheep.

Recently, an advertisement for the recruitment of herders in China’s northern grasslands went viral on social media, revealing the real picture of the country’s job market.

700 applications for just two jobs

According to reports, farm owner Zuo Xiaoyong, who lives near the Inner Mongolia region of China, had issued an advertisement in late April requiring two shepherds for his farm. He hoped that some local people would apply, but within no time this post went viral on the social media platform Weibo.

Within a few hours this advertisement was viewed crores of times and thousands of people reacted to it. The most surprising thing was that more than 700 applications were received for just two posts.

University graduates also in line

Those who applied included everyone from factory workers to white-collar office workers and university-educated youth. According to the farm owner, about 10 percent of the applicants were recent college or university graduates.

Many youth said that they want a quiet life, tired of the hustle and bustle of cities, long working hours and mental stress.

How much is the salary?

For this job of shepherd, the salary was kept around 8,000 yuan every month, which is equivalent to about 1.1 lakh rupees in Indian currency. Along with this, free accommodation and food facilities were also being provided.

Interestingly, the average salary in many private sectors in China is said to be lower than this. In such a situation, this job became attractive for the youth.

How difficult is the work?

However this work is not easy. In summer the staff must graze around 3,000 sheep in the vast grasslands. Whereas in winter the temperature drops to minus 30 degrees Celsius, where animals have to be constantly looked after.

The farm owner clearly said that this is not a life like a tourist destination but a very difficult and lonely job.

Youth troubled by ‘996’ work culture

The long-discussed “996” work culture in China is also being considered a major reason for the dissatisfaction of the youth. In this system, employees are made to work from 9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week.

Many youth said that they are troubled by problems like constant work pressure, mental stress and loss of personal life in factories and corporate sector.

‘Age of 35’ is also a big problem

The “curse of 35” is also in discussion in the job market in China. Many companies have been accused of avoiding giving jobs to employees above 35 years of age.

It is being told that a large number of people applying for the job of shepherd were born in the 1990s, who are worried about future job security.

AI and economic pressure increase concerns

Experts believe that the employment situation in China may become more challenging in the future. Competition is expected to intensify due to the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), rising costs for industries and the entry of millions of new graduates into the job market.

Who got the job after all?

After so many applications, the farm owner finally gave jobs to two married couples with agricultural experience. He said that this work demands physical hard work and long periods of loneliness, which not everyone can do for long.