Chinese Journal of Sociology

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Why are the Rural Migrant Workers so Prone to Job Change: Job Mobility of Rural Migrant Workers within the Constraint of Hukou System

Author:Zhang Chunni,Department of Sociology,The Chinese University of Hong Kong   

  1. Author:Zhang Chunni,Department of Sociology,The Chinese University of Hong Kong
  • Online:2011-11-20 Published:2011-11-20
  • Contact: Zhang Chunni,Department of Sociology,The Chinese University of Hong Kong E-mail:chunnizhang@gmail.com
  • About author:Zhang Chunni,Department of Sociology,The Chinese University of Hong Kong
  • Supported by:

    This paper was supported by the research project “Protecting Rights of Migrant Workers: Theories and Practices” (09JZD0032) sponsored by Philosophy and Social Science Foundation from Ministry of Education of China.

Abstract:

The labor force market in China is segregated along three dividing lines: being inside or outside the redistributive state system, having high or low human capital under the market system, and whether registered with a rural or an urban identity in the hukou system (household registration system). The third division is believed to be the key factor that has been associated with the rural migrant workers’ frequent job changes. This study adopts the model of event history analysis to compare the job mobility of urbanites and rural migrants and to examine the latter group’s job mobility patterns in different historical periods. The results show that, although human capital and work sector influence job changes, domicile discrimination contributes uniquely to rural migrants’ job stability. Its impact, however, is decreasing with the development of society.

Key words: job mobility, hukou system, rural migrant workers, event history analysis