Leon Li and Alice Wang are among a growing number of Chinese professionals abandoning high-pressure corporate roles for blue-collar work in search of better work-life balance. Li transitioned from a tech giant to a cleaning job in Wuhan, appreciating the reduced mental pressure and increased personal happiness. Wang moved from a high-earning job in Hangzhou to pet grooming in Chengdu, finding fulfillment in a less demanding environment. This trend is fueled by a challenging economic climate in China, including a youth unemployment rate reaching over 20% and decreased job opportunities in the corporate sector. Workers are drawn to blue-collar roles by rising wages and surging demand despite potential stress from customer interactions.
See "They used to work for China’s biggest companies. Now they’re doing manual labor", Chris Lau and Hassan Tayir, CNN, July 22, 2024