Social Networks and Job Quality Among Ethnic Migrants in Urban China: Evidence from the CMDS Survey

JiangHang
（Yunnan University, ChinaKunming 650091）

Abstract:As China enters the mid-to-late stage of its urbanization process, cross-regional migration among ethnic populations has increased significantly. This study, drawing on data from the 2017 China Migrants Dynamic Survey (CMDS), constructs a multi-dimensional job quality index to assess the employment conditions of ethnic migrants, including income, working hours, contract status, and access to social insurance. Using multivariate regression models, the analysis reveals that ethnic migrants generally face low job quality, with high labor intensity and insufficient social protection. However, social interaction and social participation in the destination cities significantly improve job quality. The findings remain robust across alternative specifications. Mediation analysis shows that social participation partially mediates the relationship between social interaction and job quality, while education level moderates the effect: higher education enhances the positive impact of social engagement on job outcomes. The study concludes with recommendations to improve ethnic migrants’ integration into local social networks and calls for greater educational investment to support equitable labor outcomes.

Keywords: Ethnic migrants, job quality, social interaction, social participation,

1.Introduction

Rapid industrialization and urbanization in China have led to expansive cross-regional migration, including among ethnic minority populations. As of 2020, China’s urbanization rate reached 63.89%, indicating a transition to high-quality development. Ethnic migration has surged, comprising 9.41% of the total migrant population in 2017. Despite policy efforts to foster ethnic inclusion and equitable employment, ethnic migrants still face structural disadvantages: low education levels, cultural barriers, concentration in low-wage sectors, and limited access to employment contracts or social benefits.

In recent years, the Chinese government has placed increasing emphasis on the quality of employment for the workforce. The 14th Five-Year Plan emphasised the importance of ensuring that all citizens have access to the labour market and the opportunity to obtain high-quality employment. Previous studies have demonstrated that human capital and social networks can effectively influence employment quality. However, there is a paucity of empirical research on the impact of social networks on the employment outcomes of minority ethnic groups. In view of the aforementioned background, it is imperative tocomprehensively assess the quality of employment for minority ethnic groups in terms of social networks and participation in the workforce.

2.Theoretical Framework and Hypotheses

Study is based on social network theory and the concept of social capital. Granovetter’s ‘weak ties’ theory emphasises that weak relationships are often channels for acquiring new information and employment prospects. Lin’s social capital framework further confirms that the resources embedded in social relationships, especially those formed through weak ties, are essential for individuals seeking more employment opportunities. For members of minority ethnic groups, their social networks are often limited to familiar circles. Expanding these networks and incorporating more diverse contacts has been shown to improve employment outcomes.

In addition to the influence of social networks, social participation also plays a significant role in the context of employment. This participation can manifest in various forms, such as involvement in local institutions, community affairs, and public discourse, thereby facilitating access to employment-related information and resources. For ethnicminorities residing in the host country, active engagement in public life can enhance their visibility, thereby expanding the range of resources available to them for securing employment. Furthermore, this participation can serve as a conduit for obtaining employment support services.Therefore, we hypothesize:

H1: Broader social interaction with diverse local populations improves job quality among ethnic migrants.

H2: Higher levels of social participation are associated with better job quality.

H3: Social participation mediates the effect of social interaction on job quality.

H4: Education level positively moderates the effects of social interaction and participation on job quality.

3.Data and Methods

This study uses data from the 2017 CMDS, a nationally representative survey of internal migrants conducted by the National Health Commission of China. The sample includes 5,790 ethnic minority migrants aged 16–59 in non-agricultural employment. The dependent variable is a Job Quality Index (JQI), constructed from four dimensions: income (monthly wage), work intensity (weekly hours, reversed), contract status (signed or not), and social insurance coverage (participation in urban employee medical insurance).

When measuring the Employment Quality Index (JQI), all indicators are standardised and assigned values using the equal weighting method. The final index is converted into a 0–100 score, with higher scores indicating better employment conditions. Employment quality indicators include monthly income, working hours (reverse coded), contract status and social insurance participation, all of which are given equal weighting. To minimise the impact of outliers in continuous variables, a win-thin method is used at the 1% critical value.

Social interaction is measured using a five-point rating system to evaluate the frequency and diversity of interactions between migrant workers and local residents outside their social circles. Social participation is assessed using a set of five items covering political participation, community involvement, and online civic activities. Factor analysis confirmed that these items reflected a single underlying structure. Educational attainment is recorded as the number of years of formal education. Controlvariables include: gender, age (with a square term), marital status, political affiliation, type of residence, distance of migration, length of stay, migration motivation, settlement intention, and regional fixed effects.

The empirical strategy involves OLS regressions for baseline analysis, followed by mediation analysis using the Baron and Kenny (1986) approach. Moderation effects are tested by interacting education level with the main independent variables and checking for significance and model improvement. Robustness checks include alternative operationalizations of social interaction (e.g., excluding non-interacting cases) and use of alternative participation indicators.

4.Results

The baseline regression results show that both social interaction and social participation are positively and significantly associated with job quality (p < 0.01). These associations remain robust when alternative measures and sub-samples are tested. When social participation is introduced into the model, the coefficient for social interaction declines, and the Sobel test confirms a significant mediating effect.

The results of the analysis show that higher levels of education strengthen the positive relationship between social variables and employment quality. The higher the level of education, the more likely it is that minority ethnic migrant populations will be able to utilise social networks and opportunities, thereby improving their employment prospects.

Furthermore, the heterogeneity analysis showed that the advantages of social participation were more evident among minority ethnic migrant populations living in eastern China and those who had lived in the destination city for more than five years. The study results showed that spatial differences and length of residence were important factors in determining the function of social capital among minority ethnic migrant populations.

5.Conclusion

This study emphasised the pivotal role of social relations and societal participation in enhancing employment quality for minority populations. Empirical evidence has demonstrated that expanding social networks and actively engaging in civic life can contribute to enhancing employment quality and fostering more profound social integration. The enhancement of educational levels has further underscored the merits of such engagement. Future research could investigate how gender disparities and generational shifts influence the development and integration of social capital in immigrant communities.

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