A survey conducted between November and March this year by the Employees Retraining Board, an independent statutory body, found that half of the 1,261 respondents said little interest in workingThat number may seem high, but respondents also included housewives and recent retirees. For those who have recently retired, it makes perfect sense. Finally leaving the rat race probably means they don’t want to sign up for another one. It’s time to relax, travel a little, and just enjoy life. It’s estimated that we work a third of our lives. For Hong Kong, where working overtime is the normthen it is likely that our numbers are even higher. And what about housewives? They obviously have little interest in work. They already have a full-time job. People between the ages of 30 and 49 were, the study found, more likely to find a jobbut only for those who could work on a part-time basis. What is alarming about the results of the study is that more than 36 percent of the young people interviewed who were neither in school nor employed indicated that they had no intention of finding a job. Even with the prospect of good salaries and benefits, flexible working hours and working from homeonly a few would consider going to work. That’s hard for some middle-aged people to grasp. If I were paid better, given the freedom to work flexible hours and not be in the officeI would be delighted. Why do young people in their prime leave it behind?
We need to put our judgments aside for a moment and listen to the answers of the recent retirees, housewives and middle-aged people. Young people probably don’t see the point of working long hours and dealing with the stress that comes with it, when they don’t have time to live their lives.
02:12
Working until 70: Aging population in northeast China points to looming pension crisis
Working until 70: Aging population in northeast China points to looming pension crisis
The recent retirees are not eager to return to work. Retirees who were open to returning to work said they would consider it if they had a good salary and benefits, stress-free tasks, and support from job seeker organizations. In other words, they would work if they could take it easy.
The emphasis on stress is telling. We have long heard that stress is an inevitable part of life and accepted that stress means we are doing something right and being productive, but that is not correct.
Getting paid better doesn’t protect us from the effects of stress. Workplace stress can stem from many different issues, such as being in a tense work environment long enough that the office is full of tired, burned out colleaguesThis can quickly make the work environment toxic and the job unpleasant. When it comes to acting, young people in some countries have started wasting their money on a phenomenon called ‘doom spending’, which takes retail therapy to a new level. In comparison, lying down seems like a smarter option than spending money unnecessarilyIt is more environmentally friendly and if these young people live with their parents, there is little reason to leave their comfort zone. 
10:28
‘Let it rot’: Surviving China’s high unemployment and high cost of living
‘Let it rot’: Surviving China’s high unemployment and high cost of living
Although the Employees Retraining Board has not released a more detailed analysis of the study’s findings, it is easy to see why housewives would prefer part-time work. They probably don’t have enough free time to work full timemeaning that the demands of full-time work pose a barrier for more than one demographic. Middle-aged people with dependents do not have the luxury of lying down. If today’s youth grew up with both parents who were stressed by long workdays, but it’s easy to understand why they don’t find it appealing to do the same. Having children is also not high on their list of priorities, which partly explains the low birth rate. I certainly had it better than today’s kids when I was young. For example, house prices and rent were nothing compared to what they are now. Young people probably look at people like me and wonder why they would want to get to where we are now. Labor shortage in many sectors, the problem is exacerbated. Most people do more than one job, and as the stress and tasks pile up, those who have no interest in joining the workforce will feel further validated in their choices.
There is a lot that the government and employers need to consider. It is no longer just about perks or work-life balance. The first step is to stop dismissing young people as lazy.
Alice Wu is a political advisor and former deputy director of the Asia Pacific Media Network at UCLA
