Rising Gender Gap in Non-Agricultural Employment in Rural China

Abstract

This chapter examines the extent of—as well as trends in—gender difference in non-agricultural employment in rural China. Using data from a large-scale survey, it analyzes the factors that determine observed gender differences. Job opportunities in the non-agricultural sector are vital in sustaining growth for the income of rural households. Such changes in the structure of rural household income have been associated with shifts in the structure of rural employment. Many studies of China’s rural employment estimate the probability that individuals participate in various types of work using a logistic or a probit model. In rural areas, farmers in villages usually work in both household and agricultural activities. Among the household characteristics, the household size increases the probability of non-agricultural employment. Marital status affects the probability of non-agricultural employment for men insignificantly. The chapter argues that the probability of women’s participation in non-agricultural employment increased less than men between 1989 and 1997, suggesting that the gender gap increased.