China's Unemployed Gen Z Rebel with 'Rat People' Moniker, Rejecting Burnout Culture

• Millions of Generation Z individuals across the globe are currently jobless . A substantial portion of younger NEETS —"not engaged in employment, education, or training"—are highly qualified and eager to find jobs, but simply can't secure employment And then there are the "rat people," who are turning to social media to express their joy at leaving behind jobs for a more relaxed lifestyle. According to experts, this trend represents a subtle form of rebellion against exhaustion and challenging employment conditions.

The age of "putting in lots of effort at work, then having even more fun afterward" for millennials has led to “girl bossing” This has been replaced by a fresh trend. At least in China, members of Generation Z are joyfully referring to themselves as "rat people"—they're devoting full days to lounging in bed, putting off tasks, browsing on their smartphones, napping, and having food delivered.

Across Weibo On platforms like RedNote and Douyin, you can come across videos featuring young adults who start their day by getting out of bed, only to promptly return to it.

Somewhere in Zhejiang, a province in eastern China, one young woman regularly shares on Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok) her horizontal schedule.

In her latest clip detailing her day as a "household rodent," @ jiawensishi Highlights how she started her day by waking up at noon, then spent hours doom scrolling until 3 PM. She passed the time lazing about her home, primarily attached to her phone on the couch, and returned to bed before 8 PM to alternate between taking naps and browsing her device for the rest of the night.

She humorously compares her withdrawn "low-energy" lifestyle to that of a sloth, and her videos are amassing hundreds of thousands of likes while encouraging viewers to adopt similar habits. Many of these "sloth enthusiasts" who comment on her content find even this relaxed pace too hurried.

“You're still too high-energy for me,” one person wrote. “I don't even sit on the sofa. I lie on the bed from the time I wake up and go to the toilet until I have to eat, then I get up to eat and then lie back down. I can live like this for a week without going out.”

“God, I think I am even more of a rat than the blogger,” another commented. “I only eat one meal a day and spend the rest of the time lying down.”

A different spectator agreed, mentioning they consume food just one time each day and can go multiple days without bathing.

Burned-out Gen Z

Even though it has a lively new term, this isn’t the first instance of China’s economically strained and weary young adults opting for a horizontal lifestyle rather than climbing the corporate ladder.

In 2021, Generation Z and younger Millennials began rejecting China’s cultural emphasis on extended working hours and intense labor by " lying flat ”.

Rather than adhering to the "996" schedule (working from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days per week), numerous individuals stated they weren't working at all—or merely putting in just enough effort to manage their tasks.

And this is precisely what numerous members of Generation Z in the Western world have also been doing: Over the past few years, the most youthful cohort of workers has brought in Bare Minimum Mondays and quiet quitting to the working world.

Others have equally portrayed the relaxed demeanor of another sluggish creature: Snails .

Many others have completely left the workforce and turned into NEETs ("not in employment, education, or training"). by choice .

Regardless of whether it's in China, the U.S., or Europe, Generation Z clearly rejects the rat race as a reaction to an increasingly tough and demanding job market.

Millennials represent the most educated generation ever recorded, followed closely by Generation Z. However, their financial prospects and chances of getting hired are noticeably fainter than those of Generation Z X graduates.

Currently, more than 4 million Americans from Generation Z are still without jobs. In China, the authorities have stated that as of February, One out of every six young individuals are unemployed.

"This phenomenon goes beyond just Generation Z withdrawing; it represents a silent rebellion from young individuals who are reacting to exhaustion, disappointment, and a job market that seems simultaneously harsh and unwelcoming," says Advita Patel, a confidence and career coach as well as the president of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations. The News Pulse .

When constantly submitting job applications and facing ghosting or rejection, it can significantly harm one's self-assurance and psychological health.

Fundamentally, instead of pursuing careers they perceive as unattainable, adopting the "rat" mentality allows young individuals to regain a sense of authority over their personal journeys.

"It isn’t about being lazy; rather, it’s about feeling exhausted from living aimlessly and losing direction. Opting out of life can seem like an appealing choice to safeguard one's mental well-being," Patel explains.

Generation Z has the potential to reshape their professional paths.

In the short term, dealing with the current job market crisis by checking out can give you a temporary illusion of relief. However, in the long term, it won’t get you any closer to landing a job. And, according to Eloise Skinner, who is both an author and a psychotherapist, tells The News Pulse might make you feel even more discouraged in the future. Once you finally decide to stop ignoring reality, you might find yourself in an even more difficult situation than when you started.

"It’s undoubtedly tough to face continuous rejection. However, individuals who step out of their comfort zones tend to cultivate resilience and adaptability skills (and become better prepared for chances when they come along). In contrast, those opting out of this experience might find themselves lagging behind their contemporaries," Skinner cautions.

However, there is hope: Provided that time-outs remain a brief pause instead of an indefinite withdrawal, many young individuals have the potential to recover—and a portion might rejoin the workforce with enhanced clarity about their objectives and path forward.

“Gen Z are probably early enough in their career to be able to take some time out,” Skinner says, pointing to gap years as an example. “University can be a high-intensity, challenging environment, and many people take time out afterwards to rediscover personal passions, figure out career options, and enjoy a break after studying.”

She suggests utilizing that period to rediscover your sense of purpose. "Consider posing this question to yourself: What gets me enthusiastic about life? What matters most to me? Which significant issues in the world am I eager to tackle? Starting with responses to these queries may assist an individual in aligning themselves with their distinctive sense of mission and vision. From there, one can explore relevant internship opportunities."

Simply avoid promoting yourself as a "rat person" online—potential employers could come across your content and may deem your attitudes contrary to the company's values, according to Skinner.

For individuals prepared to return to employment, slowly acclimating themselves can make the shift feel less overwhelming.

"For Gen Z individuals trapped in this dilemma, my suggestion is to begin with small steps, yet to commence," advises Leona Burton, a career coach and the founder of the professional network, Mums in Business International.

"You don't have to understand everything right away. Instead, connect with someone you can rely on, commit to making at least one good choice each day, and avoid judging your achievements based on somebody else's schedule," she advises. The News Pulse . “Whether it’s a part-time role, starting a side hustle or simply getting dressed and going for a walk, without your phone, every small step counts.”

“Most importantly, keep in mind: you are not lagging, you are not damaged, and you are not isolated; however, you must put in the effort and bring about that transformation.”

The tale was initially showcased on The News Pulse