As the Chinese New Year is approaching, many migrant workers have expressed that they are returning home early due to the difficulty in finding jobs. In the economic hubs of Guangdong Province, such as Shenzhen and Dongguan, numerous workers are stranded and sleeping on the streets. Whether working outside or returning home, survival is challenging for these workers.
In December 2025, a worker in Dongguan shared in a video, “It’s 2 a.m. at Dongguan East Train Station, it’s so cold and windy. I don’t even have money for a bus ride and can’t find work, so I have to sleep at the train station. I regret coming to Dongguan, not knowing what to do next, my life is very difficult.”
One worker, Xiao Wei, from a rural village in Yueyang, Hunan, mentioned that he was forced to return home early from Dongguan due to unemployment. He expressed, “It’s really hard to find a job in Dongguan now. I returned home at the end of November, but couldn’t find work by the end of the year. Many factories are either relocating or closing down, leading to job losses.”
Xiao Wei confirmed the presence of many homeless people in Dongguan, stating, “Many come and go every day.”
He has no plans to return to Guangdong after the New Year, mentioning, “Although there’s nothing to do back home either, at least I won’t starve. The wages in Dongguan are too low now. Many factories are not hiring, and most of them are luring people through intermediaries.”
He has adopted a positive attitude, saying, “Having money or not, having a job or not is not important. Health without illness or disaster is the priority, as we never know what tomorrow or accidents may bring.”
For years, Dongguan has been a showcase for China’s economy and a manufacturing powerhouse, but now many factories are relocating.
In a video shared on social media, the boss of a leather goods company in Dongguan mentioned that major luxury goods manufacturers, employ thousands of workers but have shifted their productions to Southeast Asia due to the uncertainties caused by the US trade war regarding tariffs.
The largest shoe factory in Houjie, Dongguan, Oasis Shoes Industry, also moved to Vietnam last year.
On November 18, the once-thriving Chang’an Jinbao Electronics Factory in Dongguan that employed tens of thousands of workers relocated to Thailand after more than twenty years.
In December 2025, a blogger revealed in a video that Houjie Chiling Entertainment Park in Dongguan no longer had factories or workers, with surrounding stores now abandoned.
Another worker, Dong Ming, in Jiangmen, expressed, “There are too many people returning home early.” He is currently in Jiangmen, managing to hold on for now, but uncertain how long it will last.
“In this place, whether doing business or working, it’s tough. The whole market is unfavorable, especially in first and second-tier cities where unemployment is high, many storefronts are closing down or being transferred. Didn’t a Japanese company leave Zhongshan City, leaving tens of thousands unemployed?” he stated.
Canon’s sole proprietor assembly plant in Zhongshan, Guangdong, officially ceased production on November 21, moving out of China.
Some migrant workers have returned home without receiving their salaries.
Mr. Yang, who managed engineering projects in Shenzhen, expressed, “Our project ended, and the migrant workers have already returned home. But many of us haven’t received our pay yet. Many are returning home; if we don’t get our pay, we will sue for our rights legally.”
Facing difficulties in the current situation, Mr. Yang is considering a career change, willing to adapt to whatever opportunities arise.
A woman named Xiaoling, from Maoming, Guangdong, working in customer service in Guangzhou, shared, “Finding a job in Guangzhou is challenging. Many people are returning home every day. However, even if I go back home, I won’t find good job opportunities there either.”
“It’s hard to find work everywhere now, it depends on the stability of the job. Many are struggling to find jobs or resigning by the year-end,” she added.
Reflecting on the challenging job market, Xiaoling mentioned her logistics friend who, in October, lost her job in Guangzhou and returned to her hometown in Hubei due to the lack of job prospects. Two other friends are still job hunting in Guangzhou but are facing difficulties.
“At least back home, I can live with my family and save on rent. We have our own house in the village. Even though the income might not be high, I can save whatever I earn. Each situation has its positives,” Xiaoling commented.
Quing, a worker from another province working in Foshan, returned home last month after losing her job. She noticed many workers like herself had also returned to their hometowns early in Foshan.
“I used to work in e-commerce in Foshan. After the New Year, I plan to return to Guangdong to find work, but I feel lost and uncertain about what kind of job I can secure,” she shared.
Yang Lan, a 30-year-old divorced woman from Enshi, Hubei, worked in Guangdong and was owed eight months’ salary by a listed company. She was forced to become unemployed and return to her hometown in early December. She expressed relief at being back home, helping her parents with farming activities and finding relaxation and fulfillment in the rural lifestyle.
The National Bureau of Statistics of China released data on December 15, indicating a 5.1% urban unemployment rate in November, consistent with the previous month. The local registered unemployed rate was 5.3%, while the migrant labor force’s rate was 4.7%, with the agricultural migrant labor force at 4.4%.
Wang He, a Chinese affairs expert, noted that the reported unemployment rate by the Chinese authorities focuses on urban areas and has limitations in reflecting the true unemployment situation since it excludes a significant portion of rural labor. He mentioned that the dual urban-rural system in China leads to discrepancies in unemployment statistics, with rural areas serving as a buffer for economic fluctuations, rendering the data less indicative of the overall economic conditions.
David Huang, an American economist, highlighted that conventional survey methods might not accurately portray the actual unemployment rate, as individuals not actively seeking work during survey hours are overlooked. He suggested that the current economic contraction could result in persistently high real unemployment rates.
As migrant workers return to their hometowns in large numbers, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China convened a meeting in Yunnan Province to discuss preventing mass returns to villages to combat potential poverty escalation due to unemployment.
Official figures indicate that nearly 300 million migrant workers are in China, with an average age of around 43.
In the midst of a challenging economic environment, with manufacturing industries shifting out of the country, many young migrant workers are unable to sustain themselves in the villages due to lack of agricultural skills.
The concerns raised by the Chinese authorities regarding preventing a resurgence of poverty in rural areas are seen as attempts to address potential social stability issues. The fear stems from the historical significance of the role of farmers in the foundation of the ruling party.
In conclusion, as the economic circumstances remain intricate and the job market toughens, individuals are adapting to uncertain futures, with many migrant workers finding solace back in their rural roots amid the volatile economic landscape.