The State of Precarious Work in China

Abstract

Precarious work, which is characterized by the uncertainty and unpredictability of employment, can found in the labor market of most industrialized countries. Although precarious work was relatively rare in China until the 1980s, it has experienced rapid growth over the past two decades. The factors underlying the diffusion of precarious work are varied and interrelated, notably reflecting the impact of changes in the structure of industry, occupations, urbanization, state policies, and labor market institutions, as well as employers’ manpower strategies. Although the spread of precarious work is sometimes advocated as an effective means of generating employment and increasing labor market flexibility, substantial evidence shows that such work is plagued by a series of problems, including low pay, low skill, high work intensity, poor working conditions, and lack of employment protection. This article reviews research on the trends and quality of precarious work in China in the past two decades and offers insights for policy makers with respect to the ways to integrate precarious workers into the primary labor market.