China’s economic situation is becoming increasingly dire, with businesses closing down and employees facing pay cuts as a common occurrence. The pressure of daily life has led to a rise in cases of overwork and even death among grassroots workers. Recently, reporters from Epoch Times interviewed several professionals from different regions, whose firsthand experiences outline the harsh reality of China’s current economic decline.
Mr. Liu, a sanitation worker in Shanghai, expressed how the economic situation is a mess. Although the company has not formally laid off employees, they are requiring one employee to do the work of two, with workdays stretching to 15 hours and a monthly salary of only four to five thousand yuan.
He mentioned that a colleague in his fifties died of overwork. His monthly rent of over five thousand yuan leaves him barely enough money from his job as a sanitation worker to cover housing expenses, making it impossible to make ends meet. To make a living, he has to take on another job, which is extremely challenging. It’s just too grim.
Mr. Liu highlighted the increasing wave of unemployment, stating, “Every community has people who can’t find work, even master’s and doctoral students are delivering food.”
He also pointed out the stark contrast in the once bustling Shanghai Huaihai Road shopping mall, which now sees very few shoppers, reflecting a grim reality.
Mr. Shi, an employee in a private company in Taian, Shandong, mentioned frequent cases of wage arrears, with some factories not paying salaries for several months. Their company has already owed three months’ worth of wages.
When asked about sustaining livelihoods, Mr. Shi remarked with resignation, “It hasn’t reached a breaking point yet.”
His helplessness reflects the feeling of many grassroots employees towards their current situation. Mr. Wang, a migrant worker from Sichuan, shared that wage arrears are rampant, with both bosses and workers facing difficulties. He has to rely on odd jobs to make ends meet, as every industry is struggling, and any business endeavor is tough. He admitted withholding certain thoughts due to fears.
Revealing the dire economic situation in Kunshan, Jiangsu, Mr. Zhang, who works in municipal engineering under a pseudonym, described the economic conditions as “extremely bad.”
He elaborated, “Many Taiwanese companies have either closed or relocated, with about 40% gone. There are no takers for renting factory spaces. Kunshan’s population has decreased from 3.2 million to 2 million, losing 1.2 million people within a year.”
One reason for the retreat of Taiwanese enterprises is the disappearance of local preferential policies. “Taiwanese companies enjoyed a three-year tax exemption when they came to Kunshan. However, that tax relief period has ended, and the government now requires enterprises to pay social security taxes for employees, with a minimum annual payment of over 18,000 yuan per worker, burdening companies heavily.”
Even the remaining companies in Kunshan are facing challenging survival conditions. Despite being part of a large municipal entity, the salary at Mr. Zhang’s company has decreased from around 15,000 to 10,000 yuan, and “bonuses have been canceled since last year.”
Mr. Zhang admitted that despite his company’s size, it is still in crisis. “There are too many companies closing down now, and if private enterprises can’t hold on, they can only go bankrupt.”
As 2025 unfolds, from north to south, even in the most developed first-tier cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, there is a visible trend of economic downturn. Wage reductions, rising unemployment, and a wave of business closures are exacerbating this economic crisis, slowly engulfing many people’s lives.
Despite the Chinese authorities’ introduction of various stimulus measures, China’s economy remains sluggish. Major foreign companies have started to cut prices and costs, downsizing their operations in China. This economic winter has become unbearable for countless individuals.
From grassroots workers to corporate employees and business owners, their experiences reflect the widespread impact of China’s economic recession.