Aussteiger: „Nackt kündigen“: Junge Chinesen entfliehen dem hohen Druck im Job
Chinas Aufstiegsversprechen bröckelt. Vor allem in der jungen Generation schwindet die Bereitschaft, sich aufzureiben. Das Handelsblatt hat junge Aussteiger besucht. Ihre Motive überraschen.
Huihui, a 31-year-old woman from China, decided to resign from her well-paying job as a mathematics teacher at a private school in Chongqing, China, in July 2025. She had worked long hours, often from 8 am to 11 pm, and sometimes on weekends. Huihui explained that she felt the job was not fulfilling and that it was predictable, with teachers even leaving the profession.
She chose the term "luoci," which means "naked resignation" in English, referring to the act of resigning without a new job. This concept gained popularity on Chinese social media platforms, with nearly 3.6 billion views on Xiaohongshu (formerly known as Rednote) under the hashtag #luoci. Huihui now lives with five like-minded individuals in a small village near Dali, a city of 800,000 residents in south-western China.
The picturesque highland climate and the tourist season attract many outcasts seeking a change. The reasons behind young Chinese people leaving their jobs are varied, driven by a desire for personal freedom and a desire to escape the daily grind of work, often described as the "996" work schedule (9 am to 9 pm, six days a week).
The pandemic of 2022 forced many to leave their jobs in Beijing, while others, like Demian, moved to Dali after finding new opportunities. Despite the challenges, many of these outcasts find satisfaction in their newfound freedom and are now focusing on personal growth and self-actualization.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
