China’s booming gig economy masks job market pain, strains welfare system

Bao Zhang began driving for a Chinese ride-hailing app this year after losing his ​job as a software tester and says the weak job market gives him little hope of returning to the tech sector.

His story is increasingly common in China, where tens of millions are shifting from formal employment into the gig economy as meagre unemployment insurance, record numbers of graduates and a shortage of jobs squeeze opportunities.