Unemployed Chinese Turn to Community Centers for Free Job-Hunting Spaces

As layoffs continue in parts of China's economy, many unemployed workers are using community service centers as free workspaces while searching for new jobs, He Huifeng reported for the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

One job seeker, Joey Zhang, previously worked as a brand planner for a private advertising company before losing her job during a round of layoffs that she said was linked to the growing use of artificial intelligence in marketing and branding.

After initially searching for work in cafés, Zhang began using a nearby community service center that offers free air conditioning, Wi-Fi and electrical outlets.

Originally established for Chinese Communist Party activities, many community service centers have been renovated in recent years into public facilities known as "living rooms for all," providing free space for residents.

China's urban unemployment rate stood at 5.1 percent in May, down slightly from 5.2 percent in April but higher than a year earlier.

The popularity of the centers follows last year's emergence of so-called "pretend-to-work offices," which were reported by domestic media as places where unemployed people maintained daily routines while looking for jobs.

Zhang said she now spends most weekdays at the community center, allowing her to maintain a regular work schedule while avoiding the stigma of prolonged unemployment at home.