China | Greasing the ladders

Zero-covid is making it tougher for Chinese strivers to get ahead

Paths to the middle class are narrowing

Mandatory Credit: Photo by WU HONG/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (10746744h)A migrant worker waits to be employed on the street in Beijing, China, 17 August 2020. According to media reports, the surveyed unemployment rate in urban areas in July stood at 5.7 percent and the country recorded a higher youth unemployment rate in July, with a record number of university graduates expected this year.Migrant workers seek job opportunity in Beijing, China - 17 Aug 2020

Sep 7th 2022|BEIJING

In january, for the purpose of contact tracing, the authorities in Beijing released data on the movements of two people infected with covid-19. A 44-year-old migrant worker with the surname Yue had gone from one construction site to another, visiting nearly 30 over the course of 18 days. He worked odd jobs, supporting a big family. The other was a young white-collar worker, reportedly with the surname Li. She spent the early days of January skiing and browsing in posh shops, such as Dior.

This article appeared in the China section of the print edition under the headline “Greasing the ladders”