🇨🇳 A Chinese farmer posted a job ad for two shepherds in a remote grassland south of Mongolia.
700 people applied. University graduates, white-collar workers, factory employees.
The ad got 59 million views on Weibo in hours.
The pay was $1,178 a month, accommodation included.… pic.twitter.com/6iG6yR3bqG
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 27, 2026
A Chinese farmer posted a job ad for two shepherds in a remote grassland south of Mongolia.
700 people applied. University graduates, white-collar workers, factory employees.
The ad got 59 million views on Weibo in hours.
The pay was $1,178 a month, accommodation included. In Shanghai, a master’s degree gets you roughly the same salary, most of which disappears on rent.
China has a record 12.7 million graduates hitting the job market this summer, rising underemployment, and a culture of working 9am to 9pm 6 days a week.
People are done.
Reuters reports that a job advertisement for shepherds in China has gone viral, attracting over 700 applicants and highlighting growing strain in the country’s labour market. The listing, offering work caring for 3,000 sheep in remote grasslands near Mongolia, drew interest from university graduates, factory workers and white-collar employees seeking relief from intense urban work culture.
Analysts say the response reflects rising underemployment, youth job insecurity, and dissatisfaction with long hours and low pay. Despite official unemployment figures hovering around 5 per cent, workers cite pressure from the ‘996’ work culture and limited opportunities. The shepherd role, though physically demanding, offers accommodation and relatively competitive pay. Experts warn competition for jobs is to intensify as more graduates enter the market.
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