Chinese searches for ‘layoff compensation’ at highest since 2011

A man looking at his laptop after having lunch at a restaurant during lunch hour in Beijing, China. Searches for 'layoff compensation standard' on Baidu.com started rising since January and have reached their highest level since 2011, according to data compiled by Baidu Inc. — Reuters

Chinese people are increasingly worried about their jobs as the coronavirus outbreak forces businesses to shut down across the country and depletes revenues, a private gauge showed.

Searches for "layoff compensation standard” on Baidu.com, China’s largest search engine, started rising since January and have reached their highest level since 2011, according to data compiled by Baidu Inc. The jump highlights public concern about a deteriorating employment outlook, as production remains disrupted in many sectors weeks after quarantine measures were first applied.