Ethnic disparities in labor market outcomes among migrant populations in China: a study of thirteen minority groups and the Han

Abstract

Using pooled data from the 2013–2017 National Migrant Dynamics Monitoring Survey, this study examines whether and how migrants from 13 large ethnic minority groups are disadvantaged in the labor market relative to Han migrants. Results show that except for the sizable ethnic penalty paid by Uyghurs, minority-majority differences in monthly income are either small or not statistically significant. In the attainment of professional and managerial jobs, Hui and Uyghur migrants are disadvantaged relative to the Han, while others show an advantage over or no difference from the Han migrants. Further analysis shows that popular inter-provincial destinations tend to be more beneficial for minority migrants than intra-provincial destinations in terms of monthly income, but more disadvantaged in terms of occupational attainment. Moreover, in most cases, the moderating effect of education on the relationship between ethnicity and labor market outcomes is either negative or insignificant.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the National Social Science Fund of China (Grant ID: 18CRK008) and Shanghai Pujiang Scholar (Grant ID: 17pjc048).

Notes on contributors

Zhen Li

Zhen Li is an assistant professor at the Asian Demographic Research Institute, Shanghai University. She received her PhD from the Department of Sociology, the State University of New York at Albany. Her research interests include migration, urbanization, social demography, and quantitative research methods.