China's unemployment surge sends workers to food delivery, leading to intense competition

China's struggling economy has fueled a surge in unemployment, compelling a large number of individuals to seek work in the food delivery sector. This massive influx of new drivers has dramatically intensified what is known as "involution" – a state of excessive and irrational internal competition – within the industry.

The delivery market, once seen as an accessible employment option, is now oversaturated. Reports indicate that the competition has become so fierce that new drivers face long queues just to get online and accept orders. The situation has reached a point of desperation for some, with one widely shared online account describing a delivery worker kneeling and pleading for the intense competition to subside.

This phenomenon reflects broader economic challenges in China, where a slowing growth rate and a difficult job market are pushing more people into gig economy roles. The intense "involution" in food delivery highlights the precariousness of employment for many and the social pressures arising from a highly competitive labor landscape.