Chinese Labor Force Research Articles

Research Progress and Prospect of Chinese Labor Skill Structure

As an important index to measure a country's economic development and social progress, the skill structure of labor force has been widely concerned. With the rapid development of China's economy and science and technology, the optimization of labor force skill structure has become one of the key factors to achieve sustainable development. However, there are still some deficiencies and limitations in the research on the skill structure of Chinese labor force. By systematically combing relevant studies, this paper clarified the evolution trend of China's labor force skill structure, deeply analyzed the influence mechanism of China's labor force skill structure around variables such as digital economy, industrial upgrading, regional development level, technological progress and urbanization, and then discussed the optimization path of labor force skill structure, and looked forward to the direction and focus of future research.

Can Digital Economy Drive Income Level Growth in the Context of Sustainable Development? Fresh Evidence from “Broadband China”

In the context of the rapid development of digital economy and the promotion of sustainable development, this paper focuses on the impact of digital economy on income levels. Based on the panel data of 195 prefecture-level cities, the “Broadband China” pilot has been regarded as a natural experiment for the measurement of the digital economy. In this paper, a time-varying DID model was established to evaluate the influential effect of “Broadband China” on income growth. It was found that the coming into service of “Broadband China” has increased the overall income level of the Chinese labor force. Further research found that “Broadband China” has done more to raise the income levels of the high-skilled labor force, thus widening the income gap between the high-, medium-, and low-skilled labor force. “Broadband China” can affect the income growth via two mechanisms, namely, “increasing the entrepreneurship rate” and “leading to an increase in the overall number of professional and skilled labor force in China”. In this case, the entrepreneurship rate of the high-skilled labor force may be higher than that of the medium- and low-skilled labor force due to human capital accumulation. The rapid increase in the high-skilled labor force in technical industries will lead to the situation where their income growth effect is higher than that of the medium- and low-skilled labor force. Based on the above research results, this paper puts forward policy suggestions from three aspects: further accelerating the process of digital economy; improving the institutional environment of the broadband network and standardizing the order of the construction of the broadband network; and further stimulating the entrepreneurial motivation of labor force, paying attention to the problem of skill bias and optimizing the employment structure, balancing efficiency and equity, and contributing to the ultimate sustainable development of developing countries.

Level of Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Its Relationship with Risk for Malnutrition in China’s Adult Labor Force: China Nutrition and Health Surveillance, 2015–2017

The purpose of this study was to analyze the fruit and vegetable intake status and examine both potential risk and protective action factors in the Chinese labor force population, while investigating the association between fruit and vegetable intake and malnutrition in this population. Data were derived from a population-based cross-sectional survey, the China Nutrition and Health Surveillance, 2015-2017. Sociodemographic information, physical measurements, and dietary intake data were collected. A total of 45,459 survey respondents aged 18-64 years old were included in the analysis. Fruit and vegetable consumption data were assessed by a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and the average daily intake was calculated. In 2015, the daily intake of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, and combined fruits and vegetables among the Chinese labor force was 64.3 g, 210.0 g, and 330.0 g (median), respectively. Compared with the Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents (2022), 79.9% and 53.0% were at risk of inadequate fruit and vegetable intake, while 55.2% were at risk of inadequate intake of combined fruits and vegetables compared with the WHO recommendation. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that female gender, higher educational level, and higher income were protective factors for adequate fruit intake, while increasing age and living in the southern region were protective factors for adequate vegetable intake. The results confirmed that increasing vegetable intake helped urban labor force maintain normal BMI and control overweight. Increased fruit consumption may reduce the risk of underweight, but no clear negative association with overweight and obesity was observed. In conclusion, the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables by the Chinese labor force was inadequate, especially for fruits. Interventions are needed to promote the daily intake of fruits and vegetables in this population. In addition, further in-depth studies in this area are recommended in populations with different health status.

Internet Use and Job Satisfaction: Evidence from China.

We explore the causal effects of Internet use on job satisfaction using a sample of 83,012 Chinese labor force members aged 16–64 years from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) from 2010 to 2018. We use ordered logistic estimation and find that Internet use significantly increases job satisfaction by 3.2%. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the Internet has a more positive impact on those who are in urban areas and have higher incomes and higher education. Our results are robust after eliminating endogeneity using instrumental variables and solving the self-selection problem using the PSM method. Our mechanistic analysis leads to similar conclusions to mainstream research, where Internet use induces job satisfaction by increasing time efficiency and enhancing job autonomy. Specifically, shorter working hours boosted job satisfaction by approximately 0.3%, while working in informal places boosted job satisfaction by 5.4%. Thus, employers may consider encouraging employees to access the Internet.

The Research Progress and Hot Spot Analysis of Labor Supply in China Based on CiteSpace

The analysis in the field of labor supply including the topic of general interest and frontier progress has a significant impact on the mobility and the development of the Chinese labor force. Based on the software of Citespace, this essay makes an in-depth study on the research achievements in the labor supply field published in CSSCI journals from 1998 to 2021, draws a knowledge map and systematically analyzes the research hotspots and frontier progress in this field. The results show that the hot areas of domestic labor supply research include demographic dividend, labor force, severe labor shortage, aging, unemployed people, demand, medical insurance, and so on. The latest research frontier in the field of labor supply in China is related to delayed retirement, manufacturing, artificial intelligence, aging, and intermediary effect. All the research is closely related to the national policy orientation. In the future, it is suggested to strengthen communication and cooperation between scholars and research institutions from a multidisciplinary perspective, enhance research and collaboration in the field of labor supply, reinforce the construction of facilities in labor supply, build a labor supply service system and constantly innovate the development model to promote the development of social integration.

Depressive symptoms and socioeconomic status among the labor force: Evidence from China's representative sample.

ObjectivesThe purpose of this paper is to describe the prevalence of depressive symptoms in the Chinese labor force; to explore the relationship between depressive symptoms and socioeconomic status among the Chinese labor force, including both the structural determinants and the intermediary determinants of health inequities; and to identify vulnerable populations who would benefit from intervention measures.MethodsData were from the China Labor-Force Dynamics Survey (CLDS) 2016. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to assess depressive symptoms. The World Health Organization’s theoretical framework of the social determinants of health was adopted to analyze the relationship between social determinants and depressive symptoms.ResultsOf the participants in the research from the Chinese labor force, 17.34% were identified as having depressive symptoms. Depression was significantly related to socioeconomic factors such as hukou status (p < 0.05 in the age < 45 model), education (p < 0.01 in all five models), employment (p < 0.05 in the male model), income (p < 0.05 in all five models), and self-assessed social class position (p < 0.01 in all five models). Intermediary factors were also related to depressive symptoms, such as gender (p < 0.001 in the overall model), age (p < 0.05 in the overall model), marriage (p < 0.05 in the female model), occupational exposure (p < 0.01 in the overall model), exercise (p < 0.05 in all five models), and health insurance (p < 0.05 in the overall model). The results showed that low socioeconomic status was associated with an increased risk of depression and there were some gradient changes in the distribution of depressive symptoms in socioeconomic status.ConclusionsThe findings showed that depression symptoms are significantly related to structural determinants and intermediary determinants in China’s labor force. There are some gradient changes in the distribution of depressive symptoms among people of different socioeconomic status. Low socioeconomic status is associated with increased risk of depression. Women, older people, and single and divorced people are the relative vulnerable groups in China’s labor force.

Identifying Factors Behind The Decline In Women’s Labor Force Participation Rate In China

The working rate of Chinese women fell from 73% in 1990 to 64% (CBR) in 2014. Currently, the women’s labor force participation rate in China is declining. Therefore, this study will determine what causes the decline of the Chinese female labor force. In the 21st century, the proportion of men and women in jobs has become increasingly unbalanced. The significance of the research is to find out why sex and the proportion of women in the workplace are becoming more and more unequal, and how to change this situation. This paper analyzed 19 papers searched from CNKI. This paper found three factors that account for the decline in women’s labor force participation rate in China: Chinese family education, Chinese marriage, and Chinese society.

The impact of lockdown policies on labor market outcomes of the Chinese labor force in 2020: Evidence based on an employee tracking survey

This paper uses data from an employee tracking survey in China for about 6000 incumbent workers to document their dynamic labor market outcomes throughout the year 2020. I find that the employment situation worsened sharply during the lockdown period and then recovered gradually, showing a “V” shaped pattern. However, by the end of November 2020, about 4.4 per cent of 2019 incumbent workers were still unemployed, with few social protections. By adopting a Difference-in-Differences approach, I further estimate the impacts of city and community lockdowns on labor market outcomes of surveyed employees and their mental health. The estimation results show that lockdowns reduced the probability of resuming work by 13.2 percentage points, which in turn worsened their mental health status. My findings suggest that stringent measures to counter the virus brought about negative shocks in the labor market and reduces the welfare of workers, at least in the short run.

Self-employment of Chinese rural labor force: Subsistence or opportunity?—An empirical study based on nationally representative micro-survey data

Self-employment is an essential form of non-agricultural employment, and its nature has been rarely identified in recent studies. From the perspectives of the human capital, social capital, and family assets of rural laborers, this study focuses on determining self-employment by using the nationally representative data on the rural labor force in China. Through the static comparative analysis between three groups of laborers in self-employment, wage employment, farming, and the dynamic comparative analysis of laborers entering into and exiting from self-employment, the study shows that self-employment of rural laborers in China is almost opportunity-driven or moving toward opportunistic self-employment. Human capital, social capital, and family assets promote rural laborers shifting from wage employment to self-employment and stimulate the establishment of high-value enterprises. The study suggests that local governments should increase the investments in rural education and vocational skills training and strengthen the availability of rural credit to lay a good foundation for self-employment activities in rural areas.

Developing China\u2019s workforce skill taxonomy reveals extent of labor market polarization

China, the world’s second largest economy, is transitioning into an advanced, knowledge-based economy after four decades of rapid economic development. However, China still lacks a detailed understanding of the skills that underly the Chinese labor force, and the development and spatial distribution of these skills. Similar data has proven essential in other contexts; for example, the US standardized skill taxonomy, Occupational Information Network (O*NET), played an important role in understanding the dynamics of manufacturing and knowledge-based work, and the potential risks from automation and outsourcing. Here, we use Machine Learning techniques to bridge this gap, creating China’s first workforce skill taxonomy, and map it to O*NET. This enables us to reveal workforce skill polarization into social-cognitive skills and sensory-physical skills, and to explore China’s regional inequality in light of workforce skills, and compare it to traditional metrics such as education. We build an online tool for the public and policy makers to explore the skill taxonomy: skills.sysu.edu.cn. We also make the taxonomy dataset publicly available for other researchers.

Curse or Blessing? Obesity and Income-Related Inequality in the Chinese Labor Force.

China owns a huge labor force of around half billion workers in 2018. However, little is known about the prevalence of obesity and the association between obesity and economic status in this special population. By employing the concentration index (CI) and decomposition analysis, this paper addresses this knowledge gap by using the most recent nationally representative dataset. In specific, this study examines the prevalence of obesity and the socioeconomic gradient in the probability of obesity among Chinese workers between 16 and 65. Our results show that the prevalence of obesity is completely different by using a different measure: the overall prevalence of being general obesity (measured by body mass index, BMI ≥ 28) varies by gender and residency from a minimum of 5.88% to a maximum of 9.46%, whereas abdominal obesity (measured by waist circumference, WCmale ≥ 85 cm & WCfemale ≥ 80 cm) prevalence presents a socking level from 64.53% to 67.69%. Moreover, the results show a pro-rich distribution of obesity (general and abdominal) among male workers (CIBMI = 0.112; CIWC = 0.057) and a pro-poor distribution among female workers (CIBMI = −0.141; CIWC = −0.166). We also find that the direction of the contribution of socioeconomic factors to income-related inequalities in obesity differs by gender. These results have substantial implications for the measurement of socioeconomic inequality in adiposity and for improving health-related policies targeting the Chinese labor force.

Are Chinese Entrepreneurs Happier than Employees? Evidence Based on a National Workforce Survey in China.

Most studies consider entrepreneurship in Chinese a happier career choice, while the adverse effects of entrepreneurship on wellbeing have been overlooked. In this research, the effect of career choice on job-related wellbeing is explored using multiple indicators. Differences in the career choices of employees and entrepreneurs are examined in the first section of the study, and the motives for entrepreneurship are studied in the second section. Job-related wellbeing is regarded as consisting of job satisfaction, subjective wellbeing, and physical wellbeing. The data were obtained using the Chinese Labor-Force Dynamic Survey, and the sample consisted of 6108 employees and 2075 entrepreneurs from 29 provinces and cities in China. T-test, chi square test, and ordinal logistic regression were conducted. The analysis in the first section reveals significant differences in job-related wellbeing between employees and entrepreneurs along with differences in autonomy and perceived equity. Entrepreneurs are found to be less satisfied and unhappier than employees. The heterogeneity of the motives for entrepreneurship is highlighted in the second part, and its significant role in the wellbeing of entrepreneurs is explored. Subsistence entrepreneurs have been found to constitute up to 64% of all entrepreneurs. Subsistence entrepreneurship is negatively associated with job satisfaction and subjective wellbeing.

Stay or Leave? The Role of Air Pollution in Urban Migration Choices

Air pollution is a pervasive issue in many cities in the developing world. Yet, the linkage between air pollution and decisions concerning internal migration remains rarely explored. In this paper, we match data from China, based on an annual city-level statistical yearbook, historical air pollution indicators and a nationwide survey of temporary labor migrants in 2016 in order to analyze the effects of air pollution on migrants' interest in settling down in the cities they have moved to for work. Our results show that there is a significant and negative effect of air pollution on migrants' interest in settling down. Specifically, this negative effect of air pollution is greater for old, less-educated, within-city migrants and rural migrants - who comprise a large proportion of the Chinese urban labor force. We conclude that air pollution undermines investment in human capital and may become an obstacle for sustainable development of cities; thus, we underline the potential benefits of more stringent environmental regulation.

The Effect of Labor Migration on Farmers’ Cultivated Land Quality Protection

Since the reform and opening up, a large proportion of the Chinese rural labor force has transferred to urban and non-agricultural industries. Rural labor transfer not only changes the allocation of household labor in agricultural and non-agricultural sectors but also affects the utilization of other agricultural production factors. Based on data from 818 households in three counties in northern Jiangsu province, this paper analyzed the impact of labor migration on farmers’ adoption of cultivated land quality protection (CLQP) behaviors. The survey results showed that farmers’ awareness of CLQP was still very weak, and the proportion of farmers adopting measures such as subsoiling, straw application, cover crops and green manures and the complementary use of organic fertilizers was still relatively low. The empirical results showed that perennial out-migration for work can constrain households’ protective inputs into soil conservation, but part-time farming locally can promote households’ inputs. The results also showed that farmer characteristics, farming conditions and external environment also significantly affected the farmers’ adoption of soil conservation practices. According to these conclusions, this paper puts forward the corresponding policy implications.

Rural-Urban Migration and its Effect on Land Transfer in Rural China

Labor force rural-urban migration will lead to changes to the land use patterns of farmers. Using the survey data on dynamic migration of the Chinese labor force in 2014, iv-probit and iv-tobit models were used to analyze the impact of labor migration on the land transfer of farmers. The results show that: (1) Off-farm employment would significantly impact land transfer of farmers and the results are robust. With every 10% increase in the proportion of off-farm employment of farmers, the average probability of rent-in land of farmers decreases by 1.55%, and the average transfer in land area of farmers decreased by 1.04%. Similarly, with every 10% increase in the proportion of off-farm employment of farmers, the average probability of rent-out land of farmers increases by 4.77%, and the average transfer out land area of farmers increases by 3.98%. (2) Part-time employment also has a significant impact on land transfer of farmers, but the impact of part-time employment on land transfer in is not robust. Specifically, with every 10% increase in part-farm employment, the average probability of rent-out land of farmers increases by 7.64%, and the average transfer out land area of farmers increases by 6.85%.

Development of migrant workers in construction based on machine learning and artificial intelligence technology

Artificial intelligence technology has been widely used in all aspects of our life. Similarly, the application of artificial intelligence in the field of construction engineering is a necessary trend in the development of engineering industry, especially in the traditional construction engineering department. Under the background of the times, from the perspective of knowledge, artificial intelligence technology has appeared a huge development, which may have an impact on the employment of Chinese labor force, may create new jobs, or replace traditional jobs. This effect on employment is essential. From the perspective of machine learning and artificial intelligence, this paper reviews the transformation prospects of engineering industry and the development of agricultural industry in construction industry, and examines the intellectual transformation of individual human capital in Chinese labor force.

Migration status and healthcare seeking behaviours among the Chinese labor-force: a nationally representative study

ObjectivesWe aimed to analyse the healthcare seeking behaviours (HSB) of populations with different migration status and examine the relationship between migration status and HSB.DesignA secondary analysis of cross-sectional data of...

Depressive symptoms in three Chinese older workforce groups: the interplay of work stress with family and community factors.

More people remain in the workforce into their late life as people's life expectancy increases. This study examined the relationship between work stress and depressive symptoms of older workers in mainland China, focusing on the interplay between work stress with family and community factors in three (i.e., urban, rural, and migrant) settings. National representative survey data on the Chinese labor force collected by the Social Science Research Center of Sun-Yetsen University in 2014 were used. The sample consisted of 5,751 workers aged 50 and above recruited from 29 out of 31 provinces in mainland China. Work stress had a consistent and robust effect on depressive symptoms across older worker groups. Moreover, it interacted with family and community factors differentially in three settings. For migrant older workers, work stress was a dominant factor affecting their depressive symptoms. Among rural older workers, the influence of work stress on depressive symptoms depended on their family debt and neighborhood cohesion levels. Stressors from work, family, and community comprised a general model that explains depressive symptoms in Chinese older workers. Interventions or service programs aimed at reducing work stress and improving mental health among older adults should consider the complexity of intertwining family and community dynamics as well as respective strengths in urban, rural, and migrant communities.

Trend on mortalities in all-cause and chronic non-communicable diseases among the labor force population in China, 2007-2016

Objective: To analyze the trends on mortalities of all-cause and deaths caused by chronic and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among Chinese labor force population during 2007 to 2016. Methods: Data on cause-of-death that collected from the National Mortality Surveillance System was used to analyze the age and area-related specific crude mortality rates, age-standardized mortality rates and component ratios of NCDs, among the Chinese labor force population, during 2007 to 2016. Trend of crude mortality rates and mortality component ratios of the three major diseases (infectious diseases, maternal and infant diseases, nutritional deficiency diseases; NCDs; injuries) were analyzed. Age-standardized mortality of cancer, COPD, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases were also analyzed by gender. Age-standardized mortality was calculated based on the Year 2010 Population Census of China. Joinpoint regression model was used to obtain annual percentage change and 95%CI was set for assessing the trend. Results: In 2016, the age-standardized all-cause mortality rate was 217.23 per 100 000 among the Chinese labor force population, but decreased by -2.8% (95%CI: -3.8%- -1.7%) annually from 2007 to 2016. The gap between different gender and regions gradually narrowed. The proportion of deaths caused by NCDs increased annually by 0.8% (95%CI: 0.7%-0.9%). The age-standardized mortality rate of NCDs appeared as 171.89/100 000, among the Chinese labor force population in 2016, showing a downward trend by -2.4% (95%CI:-3.3% - -1.4%). However, in females, there appeared the greatest decrease, with an average annual change of -3.3% (95%CI:-4.0% - -2.5%). Diseases as cancer, COPD, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases all showed downward trends in the whole country, with an average range of -2.0% (95%CI: -2.6%--1.3%), -8.0% (95%CI: -8.9% - -7.1%), -1.5% (95%CI: -2.9% - -0.1%), -2.3% (95%CI: -2.8% - -1.8%) in a ten-year period, respectively. Conclusion: All-cause and age-standardized mortality rates caused by NCDs among Chinese labor force population were decreasing during 2007 to 2016. However, the constituent ratios appeared increasing, year by year. Close attention needs to be paid on NCDs which affecting the health of the labor force population in China.

Age of Retirement and Human Capital in an Aging China, 2015\u20132050

As China continues to age rapidly, whether the country should adjust the official retirement age, and if so, when and how, are currently major policy concerns. We examine the impact of postponing the retirement age on the human capital of China in the next four decades. Two critical aspects of human capital—health and education—are incorporated to account for the quality of the work force. Our projections reveal the impact of nine scenarios on the Chinese labor force in the next few decades, highlighting the changes in “the high human capital workforce”—those with good health and education. We show substantial impact with added work force ranging from 28 to 92 million per year depending on which scenarios are implemented. Furthermore, the retained workers are increasingly better educated. The gain in female workers is particularly significant, reaping the benefits of the education expansion since the 1990s.