Exploring the power of networks and knowledge: how social capital and education drive the success of Chinese migrant workers in the labor market

ABSTRACTThis study explores the relationships between social capital, education, income, and job stability in Chinese migrant workers, an under-researched area. Our findings reveal strong positive links between social capital, formal education duration, income, and job stability for migrant workers. Importantly, we distinguish between male and female migrants, unveiling gender-specific differences in the impact of social capital and education on income and job stability. Male migrant workers benefit from both social capital and formal education, while female migrant workers primarily gain from formal education. Regarding job stability, only the formal education duration of female migrant workers demonstrates a noteworthy correlation. Additionally, our analysis examines generational disparities, showing that formal education positively affects all migrant workers, with more pronounced advantages among younger individuals. Furthermore, our study emphasizes the role of social capital in increasing income for migrant workers in the manufacturing and construction sectors, while also enhancing job stability among those in the construction and service sectors. Formal education emerges as a positive factor for both income and job stability across manufacturing, construction, and service domains among migrant workers.KEYWORDS: Social capitalemploymentincomejob stabilityChinese migrant workerseducationemployment sector Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.Notes1. Due to limitations in data, ‘service’ in this context encompasses wholesale/retail trade and residential services/repair. ‘service’ elsewhere in this paper also includes transportation/warehousing/postal services and accommodation/catering.Additional informationFundingSupported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [No. 72203240 and No. CSQ21003]Notes on contributorsZhengyi YangZhengyi Yang is an associate professor in economic management. Her research interests are focused upon the labor economic history of migrant workers in China.Yu WangYu Wang is an assistant professor of operations management. His research interests center on the tradeoffs between capacity, service quality, and service accessibility in the healthcare industry.