Female migrants in China: Second child fertility behavior and employment stability

ABSTRACT Researchers have found a negative relationship between female fertility and employment. China’s floating population comprises 244 million as of 2017. This migrant population has relevance in view of China’s hukou (household registration) system, with the proportion of females increasing annually. This study is grounded in social role theory and employs the 2016 China Migrants Dynamic Survey (CMDS) to examine the impact of second child fertility behavior on the employment stability of female migrants in China, with respect to urban and rural differences. Binary logistic regression results indicate that bearing second children negatively affects the employment stability of female migrants. Also, its impact is stronger for female migrants of urban origin than their rural counterparts. In addition, family migration is noted to mitigate the conflict between childbearing and employment stability for them as they continue to face the dilemma of having children or seeking employment stability, especially if family and social support is weak or absent. We discuss the implications of this study on policy changes to alleviate the conflict female migrants experience in choosing between fertility and employment.