labour agencies

Shanghai's elderly jobseekers face high fees and physical demands as city scrambles for workers

A 58-year-old former mechanic from Jiangsu province is struggling to find work in Shanghai, highlighting a paradox in China's financial hub where the city desperately needs workers to counter a shrinking population but ageing jobseekers face high fees and physically demanding jobs. Labour agencies charge upfront fees of around 1,200 yuan (US$175) before introducing any work, and most available jobs involve long hours. The search coincides with Shanghai's new government initiative to mobilise the elderly to address a worsening demographic crisis.