Need a Side Gig? In China, Just Shake Your Phone

From a restaurant shift to a quick plumbing job, gig work in China is now just a phone shake away.

That’s the idea behind Tencent’s new “Nearby Jobs” feature, which was quietly rolled out nationwide on its messaging super app WeChat last week. Aimed at flexible job seekers, the tool connects users to verified listings in fields like driving, design, tech support, and catering — all within the country’s most-used app.

First piloted in Jiangmen, a city in the southern Guangdong province, the mini-program has expanded to more than 200 cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. Tencent says it has already helped over 24,000 people secure short-term work, with filters that let users sort listings by pay, distance, payment schedule, and even gender preferences.

The “Nearby Jobs” tool borrows from WeChat’s classic “Shake” feature, first introduced in 2012 to connect nearby users by physically shaking their phones. While the original version was discontinued for mainland users in early 2024 due to privacy concerns, traces of the function have recently resurfaced in limited testing — hinting at a possible revival.

The launch comes amid rising demand for platforms that can bridge the gap between gig employers and job seekers. China is home to an estimated 200 million flexible workers, and market demand for blue-collar labor has surged 380% over the past five years, according to a 2024 industry report. Younger workers are driving much of this growth, with job applicants under 25 rising by 165% during the same period.

According to Tencent, users can search for jobs directly through WeChat by entering keywords such as “nearby jobs,” “part-time jobs,” “daily wages,” or “odd jobs,” which trigger tailored listings based on their location.

To improve transparency and security, WeChat has integrated a “Micro Work Card” system into the platform. The feature includes digital contracts, real-time location tracking, attendance management, and insurance options for both workers and employers.

A Tencent spokesperson stated that gig-related job information has long circulated within WeChat’s ecosystem but was often scattered and hard to navigate. The new mini-program is designed to streamline access by organizing and displaying listings more intelligently.

Elements of the new feature were first introduced last year in the southern tech hub of Shenzhen, where local official Luo Niangshui helped pilot a system to ensure job listings met labor standards. Under the model, employers and recruitment agencies must sign agreements with local employment service operators to verify company qualifications, job legality, and establish dispute resolution procedures.

Each listing is then subject to three layers of review: an initial check by local operators, a second screening by human resources departments for discrimination or wage issues, and a final verification by Tencent before the job goes live.

According to Deng Di, a product manager for the “Nearby Jobs” feature, future updates may include tracking job placements, while companies could be required to report successful hires and integrate payroll and attendance systems directly into the platform.

Beyond gig work, Tencent is also exploring ways to expand the platform to include high-skilled freelance work, such as design and writing projects. While the service is currently free, the company has not ruled out future monetization through partnerships with hiring agencies.

For now, though, the platform remains focused solely on short-term gig work. Tencent staff say there are no immediate plans to turn it into a full-scale job portal, like WeChat’s existing “Stores” or “Products” sections.

Editor: Apurva.

(Header image: VCG)