Job ad for shepherds goes viral in China exposing labour market strains

A rural shepherd job went viral on Weibo, drawing 700+ applicants—including white‑collar workers and recent grads from Shanghai and Chongqing.
The response underscores rising underemployment, 996 burnout and the "curse of 35," as many find urban jobs increasingly low‑reward.
The roles paid 8,000 yuan/month with housing and food, prompting some city dwellers to trade urban stress for a quieter (if tougher) rural life.