Before dawn in Xinqiao town, Shanghai, hundreds of people over 50 gather around a metal fence. Men carry shovels and hoes. Women carry bags with cleaning rags and tools. Above the entrance, fluorescent lights illuminate a sign reading "informal job station".

Xinqiao is one of about 9,000 points supported by the Chinese government across the mainland to manage 240 million informal workers. This group now accounts for 30% of the total workforce and is growing, primarily due to the real estate downturn and automation trends in factories, which have led to many workers losing their jobs.

Mr. Xu, 66 (wearing a yellow hat), walks back to his rented room near the pier after failing to find work for the day. *CNA/Bong Xin Ying*

Mr. Xu, 66, left his hometown of Zhoukou, Henan province, for Shanghai a decade ago. That was when factories began lowering the recruitment age to under 40. For nearly five years, he has come to the station every morning, waiting for manual labor jobs like clearing trash or digging ditches. His daily income ranges from 160 to 200 yuan (approximately 610,000 to 770,000 dong). Mr. Xu recounted times when he did not find work for several days but still had to pay 50 yuan daily for rent. "These are tough, low-paying jobs that young people never do," Mr. Xu said.

Around 6h, contractors' trucks departed, taking younger, healthier workers. Mr. Xu decided to wait for one more hour, then returned to his rented room.

At the Shangchuan Road employment service center in Pudong, Shanghai, Tu Keliang, who manages a brokerage office, stated that the number of job seekers has sharply declined due to a gloomy market. Businesses now prioritize hiring hourly workers to cut social insurance costs. In this market, age is the biggest barrier. Many businesses reject workers over 40, even those with valid vocational certificates.

At the center, a 47-year-old electrician was recently rejected because the contractor requested personnel "around 34-35 years old." Concurrently, a 38-year-old woman expressed a desire to change jobs due to low pay. Mr. Tu advised her to lower her expectations. "Current salaries are around 6,500 yuan. Don't expect the same income as a few years ago," Mr. Tu said.

Workers grip shovels, waiting among trucks parked at the Xinqiao station in Shanghai, hoping to be chosen for work that day. *CNA/Bong Xin Ying*

Zhao Litao, a senior research fellow at the East Asian Institute (National University of Singapore), noted that the influx of young workers into the general labor market, requiring fewer skills, has intensified competition for older individuals. "Young people adapt better and are healthier, pushing older workers to the back," Mr. Zhao said.

The proliferation of job stations coincides with a period where inter-provincial migrant labor decreased from 78,6 million people in 2014 to 68,4 million in 2024. According to Professor Sun Zhongwei from South China Normal University, those seeking work at these stations are mainly men in their late 50s and women over 40 with low educational attainment. They include farmers, informal laborers, construction workers, or factory workers who have lost their jobs.

As technology platforms like food delivery have become saturated, direct job stations have become a last resort. However, Professor Sun stated that the biggest risk for this group is workplace accidents. Jobs such as carrying bricks or clearing debris often last only about 30 minutes. Employers refuse to purchase insurance for such short durations. For workers, self-funding insurance is beyond their financial means.

Without insurance, workers bear the consequences of accidents themselves. The urban pension fund requires contributions for 15 years or more, disqualifying workers aged 50-60 with fragmented employment histories. When they are no longer able to perform manual labor, they return to their hometowns, relying on a rural pension of 100-200 yuan per month and financial support from their children.

Vehicles of business owners selecting workers in Xinqiao, on the outskirts of Shanghai, early 2026. *CNA/Bong Xin Ying*

Research fellow Zhao Litao assessed that the job stations offer better waiting conditions and help maintain urban systems. "These stations do not solve the root cause of the problem but help manage its consequences," he said.

Professor Sun suggested that the current generation of workers grew up in poverty, making labor a survival instinct. They will continue to work as long as their bodies allow.

Returning to Xinqiao station at dawn, the crowd gradually thinned. Mr. Xu picked up his tools and walked back to his rented room, waiting for the day to pass. The next morning, he would go to the station again.

Minh Phuong (According to CNA)