The Workplace Pessimism In China

35-Year-Old Curse, Sexism, Tech Recession, and a 'Lying Flat' Young Generation

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We are Stella and Amy. We share firsthand stories and perspectives that are either lost in translation or simply inaccessible to you.

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The Conversation

Siyu: In China, unlike the US, the focus is more on being business-driven rather than data-driven. Everything revolves around the business, with product managers, operations, HR, and even the data team all acting as supporters.

Amy: Interesting. So who's actually calling the shots in this setup?

Siyu: The bosses – the business leaders and their superiors. Once they make the decisions, everyone else just focuses on rapid execution and iteration.

Stella: That sounds like it would require less domain knowledge and more emphasis on quick adaptation.

Siyu: Exactly. The key is to master the basic skills and then focus on rapid improvement and execution within the defined strategy.

Amy: Wouldn’t people feel they are corporate cog? Doesn't that make you easily replaceable?

Siyu: Well, we're all working for capital, aren't we? We're all just tools in the system, regardless of where we work.

Stella: Do you see any differences between working in the US and China in this regard?

Siyu: Even in the US, we're still following orders from above. The illusion of autonomy might be stronger, but ultimately, we don't make the big decisions.

Amy: So, in China, the best approach is to just keep your head down and do your job?

Siyu: Pretty much. In this environment, you just need to excel at your specific tasks under the clear business strategy. Fast execution and iteration are key – that's how you stay valuable.

The Cocoon

In China's tech industry, tech workers often feel more like tools than valued contributors. They’re seen as task-takers, expected to execute management's decisions without room for creative input or innovation. Despite their elite education backgrounds, long hours are spent on repetitive tasks, stripping away any sense of ownership or motivation. As they realize how easily replaceable they are, tech workers in China have grown increasingly disillusioned, feeling that management has little interest in their professional development. For many, work has devolved into mere labor, a paycheck to cover the mortgage, with little hope for a meaningful future.

Corporate Cogs

In China, tech workers often use strikingly vivid terms to describe their roles, even more extreme than "corporate cogs."

• 螺絲釘 (I am just a screw in this big machine)

• 工具人 (tool-like workers)

• 社畜 (company livestock)

• 碼農 (code peasants)

• 搬磚 (brick movers, literally moving bricks from one place to another)

These expressions are casually thrown around in everyday conversations, so normalized that their full impact often goes unnoticed. It’s only when we translate them for our English-speaking friends that the intense bitterness and irony become glaringly obvious. Friends are astonished by the creativity and harshness of these self-descriptions.

These terms and their widespread acceptance reveal a lot about the typical Chinese attitude towards work. Why do so many tech workers feel undervalued? Why do they hold such a bleak view of their jobs, even when working for top tech companies in China?

The issue is complicated. We will share a few observations.

The 35-Year-Old Curse

In China, age discrimination is a well-known issue in the job market. Finding a new job or making a career change becomes notably difficult once you reach 35.  Recently, as the job market deteriorated, this age threshold has even dropped to 30 years old.

To understand how age discrimination manifests in practice, here is a typical initial recruiter call when you apply for a job.

Recruiter: Hi, Jack. How old are you?

Jack: I am 37 years old.

Recruiter: That is too old for the job. I am afraid we have to end this call.

This experience is not uncommon. Both Stella and Amy have faced similar situations when speaking with recruiters from China.

Adding Sexism On Top Of Ageism

If you are a woman, age is not the only barrier. Companies also scrutinize your marital status and whether you have children, or even if you plan to have children in the future.

• "Are you married?"

• "Do you plan to get married?"

• "Do you have a kid?"

• "Do you plan to have a kid?"

The "correct" answers to these questions are a firm no. Any other response may lead to concerns about your dedication to the job due to potential personal life distractions.

As a result, many female workers feel forced to either lie or put their entire personal lives on hold, sacrificing marriage and family plans just to remain employable.

The Tech Recession

In China, much like in the U.S., the tech industry has faced major layoffs, leaving many well-paid white-collar workers suddenly navigating a job market that increasingly favors younger candidates.

Yet for those in China, the sense of loss and betrayal can cut even deeper. The grueling work culture, defined by the notorious 996 schedule (9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week), demands relentless dedication. Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba, once declared, "You should feel fortunate to be able to work 996," pushing the idea that longer hours would bring greater success.

But did it? More importantly, did it lead to greater control over one’s life? For most, the answer is a resounding no.

Imagine a tech worker who accepts all these conditions, working tirelessly and proving himself as a reliable executor, only to find that his efforts don’t make him indispensable. As he ages, he becomes a financial burden to the company, which begins to question his ability to sustain such high productivity.

Eventually, he’s laid off and faces the unforgiving “35-year-old curse.” For women, it’s even worse—job interviews come with invasive questions about marital status and family plans, or the pressure to lie just to get a foot in the door.

Zhang Shuheng, founding partner of the recruitment consulting firm Radiate Partners, describes the job market as having a stark “80-20 effect.” 80% of people face numerous hiring restrictions, while only the top 20%—those deemed exceptionally valuable—are free from age or other biases. “If you’re very capable,” Zhang explains, “even if you’re about to give birth tomorrow, the company will still hire you.”

The harsh reality? Most people find themselves in the 80%.

What about the younger generation in China

Youth unemployment has surged over the past few years, reaching an estimated 18%. While the real numbers remain uncertain, social media and news are filled with stories of young people in their 20s who are jobless and often living at home with their parents. It’s become a growing social issue.

The job market is tough, and here’s the other side of the story: many young people have simply given up. They’ve chosen to “lie flat”, a lifestyle trend rejecting the societal pressures to overwork and overachieve. Watching people in their 30s and 40s struggle to support their families, only to be easily replaced, has taught them a hard lesson. They’ve seen the game—and they’re opting out.

Why don’t they work harder and become the 20%? Well, when a goal is set too high and it becomes clear that it is unattainable, one might as well stop hoping for it.

At the same time, seeing through this predetermined life logic, if you do not follow, then you would not get caught up in it.

Is it just China?

As we wrapped up, Siyu said "Even in the US, we're still following orders from above. The illusion of autonomy might be stronger, but ultimately, we don't make the big decisions."

Do you feel the same? Or do you feel you have more autonomy in your work and life?

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We are Stella and Amy. We share firsthand stories and perspectives that are either lost in translation or simply inaccessible to you.