ByteDance, the Beijing-based tech firm behind TikTok and its Chinese counterpart Douyin, has disclosed that the median service length for current employees is 2.9 years, with the average tenure sitting at approximately three years. These figures were presented during an internal town hall meeting on Thursday, led by co-founder, chairman, and chief executive Liang Rubo, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The same sources indicated that roughly half of ByteDance’s 120,000 employees have been with the company for over three years. In contrast, for former staff, the median service duration was estimated at 2.6 years, with an average of 2.5 years.
These revelations come in response to online speculation suggesting ByteDance employees typically lasted only seven months at the company. The firm’s decision to publicly share these numbers appears to be aimed at quelling such rumours and affirming its status as a stable and attractive employer within China’s tech sector.
Context within China’s tech industry
If accurate, ByteDance’s reported tenure statistics would position it favourably in comparison to industry norms in mainland China. The country’s technology sector has long been criticised for its high employee turnover, often attributed to the demanding “996” work schedule, which refers to working from 9 am to 9 pm, six days a week.
In November 2021, ByteDance made headlines when it formally distanced itself from the 996 model, instead promoting a more balanced “1075” routine: 10 am to 7 pm, Monday to Friday. This policy shift was widely viewed as part of the company’s broader efforts to enhance employee well-being and work-life balance.
Reports of the tenure figures first appeared in Chinese media, including The Paper, an outlet operated by the state-run Shanghai United Media Group.
Global comparison and broader employment challenges
Compared to the United States, ByteDance’s employee tenure figures are slightly lower. Data from the US Bureau of Labour Statistics shows that as of January 2024, the median tenure for American workers stood at 3.9 years, down from 4.1 years in January 2022. Meanwhile, mainland China does not officially release similar nationwide statistics on employment tenure.
The disclosure of ByteDance’s internal retention data comes at a time when employment practices in China’s tech industry are under growing scrutiny, especially in the context of youth unemployment. China is facing a record influx of university graduates this year, with 12.22 million expected to enter the job market this summer. The resulting pressure on the job market is anticipated to push the youth jobless rate even higher.
In this environment, age-related discrimination in hiring practices has also gained attention. The so-called “curse of 35” has emerged as a controversial term on Chinese social media, referring to the perceived career limitations faced by tech workers once they reach the age of 35, often seen as a tipping point for layoffs or stagnation in professional growth.
By disclosing more about its internal workforce patterns, ByteDance may be signalling greater transparency and positioning itself as a long-term career option in a fiercely competitive and sometimes unforgiving industry.
