Why China’s white- and blue-collar workers are worried about losing their shirts

When his chemical company laid off a third of its team, Liang Wang felt a mix of emotions: relief that he was not among them, but dread that more cutbacks would soon be on the way.

Liang, a corporate culture director based in Dongguan – a manufacturing hub in the southern province of Guangdong – was able to keep his job, but had to take a steep pay cut.

“There just aren’t enough orders for production,” he said. “There’s nothing we can do.”

For years, he thought himself lucky to have landed a stable job in an established company with R&D labs and factories across several provinces. Now in his 40s, Liang said his salary was once sufficient to raise two children and pay a mortgage, but “it’s definitely not enough” at present.

“The problem is, it’s much harder than two years ago to find another job with similar pay.”

Liang is far from alone.