With youth unemployment stubbornly high, young Chinese job seekers are increasingly using dating apps to find jobs. At the same time, some are using recruitment platforms to find romantic partners instead.
The unemployment rate for China’s youth in the 16 to 24 age group, excluding students, remained above 16% as of July 2025, according to the South China Morning Post. Many young people describe the job market as deeply frustrating. Some even report applying for hundreds of positions a day but only getting a handful of responses.
Faced with limited options through traditional channels, some job seekers have begun openly stating their job intentions on dating app profiles. They use matches as networking opportunities.
One woman recounted being matched with a man with whom she initially felt no connection. Then she found out she was working at her dream company. He eventually helped her plan her career path and recommended her for a position there.
Another job seeker prefers dating apps for job hunting because people tend to respond more respectfully there than on recruiting platforms.
The opposite trend
The opposite trend is equally visible. According to SCMP, one user shared a screenshot of herself asking a recruiter about his relationship on the job platform.
A recruiter recalled inviting a woman to interview for a position at her company. Although the job did not work out, they became friends after a long and engaging conversation.
Boss Zhipin, one of China’s largest online recruitment platforms, previously turned its Kanzhun company rating service into a dating app. Its pitch is, “Finding terms is like screening resumes.”
Unlike many dating apps where users can be fooled, Kanzhun claims to verify details such as name, photo, education, occupation, income, marital status and personal assets. For income verification, users need to upload a screen recording of their income tax application.
The app also limits users to viewing only 10 profiles per day. The pattern reflects the structured nature of the job interview.
According to the founder of the premium matchmaking platform, the material conditions in dating increasingly outweigh the emotional connection.
Over the past decade, people have come to value wealth as the most important quality in a partner. The shift is reflected in a growing trend to refer to partners as “cohabitants” or “cohabitants,” the publication said.
There are risks
Not everyone is comfortable with this blurring of platforms. Some users report harassment from recruiters attracted by their profile photos.
Others face risks, including the risk of personal data being leaked. There are times when scammers pose as recruiters.
