It is a popular notion that China has an unlimited labour supply. However, coastal cities of China suffer from labour shortages because rural migrants go elsewhere. The opinions of migrant workers have received less attention than those of employers and local government officials. Why do they leave home? What influences their decisions on where to go?

A pilot study conducted by Cardiff University, UK tried to answer the questions raised above.

Institutional barriers such as the Hukou system still exist which divide the Chinese into urban and rural residents and discriminate against rural migrants by treating them as second-class citizens. Whilst accounting for these barriers, the study focused on the motivation, experience and planning aspects of rural migrant workers. Information from over 200 workers in foreign direct investment company in Shenzhen was sought through a survey. The researchers tried to draw a broad picture about the impact of local demographic and economic factors on labour supply as well as the needs, dynamics and planning of migrant workers.

Migrant workers are scattered in rural China and in particular in populous, poor and agriculture dominant counties in inland China. This indicates that despite the shortage of workers, neither local governments nor private organisations have helped potential rural migrants to work in coastal areas.

The research also found that:

• before migrating to coastal areas, about two thirds of the respondents had work experience in home towns or cities
• curiosity and career progression were listed as primary factors (70 percent and 62 percent respectively) which encouraged them to migrate, suggesting migration to coastal areas is not a primary aim but only a means to further their careers by gaining new knowledge, experience and skills for better jobs
• better wages commonly reported as being important because the current wages are less than what respondents expect: other important needs include job security, welfare benefits, social security and so on.
• close to two-thirds of respondents sought legal assistance to protect their rights, to lobby for the removal of urban barriers to rural migration and to make their voices public: this reflects the increasing awareness levels and political participation amongst rural migrants against urban bias and discrimination in China
• with a little help from government and non-governmental organisations, social networks can help rural migrants plan and achieve their career objectives. However, social networks can also limit workers’ mobility by confining them to a city (Shenzhen) rather than helping them move across coastal regions.

The rural–urban divide is a major barrier for both rural and urban development in China. Some implications can be drawn from this research which might help to change this:

• The shortage of rural migrant workers can be a good opportunity for the Chinese government to remove the outdated Hukou system and urban bias against rural migrants
• Although rural migration to the costal areas is driven by many factors career development seems to be a key objective. Increasing the pay of workers may therefore not be enough to cope with the current challenges in shortage of rural migrant workers.
• Rural migrant worker shortages in coastal areas call for central and local governments to provide more resources and support for skill training and guide migration in inland China.

Source(s):
‘Shortage of Migratory Labour in China? A pilot study on the “career development” of migrant workers in an FDI company in Shenzhen’, A paper presented at the RGS-IBG Annual Conference, 31st August - 2nd September 2005, London, by Bin Wu, Ralph Fevre and Kelly Ke (PDF) Full document.

id21 Research Highlight: 12 July 2006

Further Information:
Bin Wu
School of Social Sciences
Cardiff University
Cardiff CF10 3AT
UK

Tel: + 44 (0) 2920 876429
Fax: + 44 (0) 2920874619
Contact the contributor: wub@cardiff.ac.uk

Cardiff University

Other related links:
'Overcoming the rural-urban divide in China and India'

'A new revolution: experiences of poverty for urban China’s laid-off workers'

China Labour Bulletin - an information source on labour issues on China

Young female migrant workers in China in need of reproductive health information and services, WHO policy brief, 2002 (PDF)