Greener pasture of a shepherd’s life lures Chinese workers penned in by ‘996’ jobs
A farmer in Inner Mongolia successfully recruited shepherds after his job advert went viral on social media, attracting over 700 applicants. The positions offered a salary above the national average, appealing to city dwellers disillusioned with the demanding '996' work culture. This trend highlights the growing challenges in China's labor market, particularly among young workers seeking alternatives to traditional jobs.
- ▪The job advert for shepherds received around 59 million views on Weibo.
- ▪Zuo Xiaoyong, the farmer, received over 700 applications for two positions.
- ▪The salary offered was 8,000 yuan per month, higher than the urban average of 6,000 yuan.
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Featuring a video of sheep frolicking in green pastures, the simple advert drew a huge response on social media when it was posted, garnering around 59m views on Weibo. Photograph: Damien Meyer/AFP/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenFeaturing a video of sheep frolicking in green pastures, the simple advert drew a huge response on social media when it was posted, garnering around 59m views on Weibo. Photograph: Damien Meyer/AFP/Getty ImagesChinaGreener pasture of a shepherd’s life lures Chinese workers penned in by ‘996’ jobsWhen an Inner Mongolia farmer sought two herders to tend his 3,000 sheep, he was swamped with applicants including graduates, factory labourers and white-collar workersAlastair McCready and agenciesThu 28 May 2026 01.19 EDTLast modified on Thu 28 May 2026 01.21…
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