Abstract
This chapter reflects on the major trends related to China’s labour market since the turn of the twenty-first century and introduces the chapters included in this book. In the last two decades, population ageing has been accelerating and China is posited to experience a population decline in 2023. Indeed, the downward trend in labour supply started much earlier. The share of the working aged population started to fall in 2010 and the number of employed people peaked in 2013. Adding to the decrease in labour supply is the fall of the share of private sector employment. Meanwhile, huge pay gaps exist among different segments of the labour market: gender, region and firm’s ownership type – largely caused by discrimination and institutional factors. This book aims to understand what the ageing population means to the labour market in China through examining empirical evidence related to labour supply, fertility, female-friendly organisational practices, and working at an older age. This chapter summarises the main insights from each chapter and suggests future reforms to turn challenges brought by population ageing into opportunities for prosperity in China.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
996 means an employee starts at 9 am and finishes at 9 pm and works for 6 days a week. This means weekly working hours of 72, even thought the legislated weekly working hours are 40.
References
Cai F (2020) The second demographic dividend as a driver of China’s growth. Chin World Econ 28(5):26–44. https://doi.org/10.1111/cwe.12350
Cooke F, Zhao C (2021) Towards a broader understanding of workplace inequality and exclusion in China: a review of discrimination based on social class, gender and physical ability. Asia Pac J Hum Resour 59(2):184–203. https://doi.org/10.1111/1744-7941.12276
Deng X, Wu Z (2023) Population ageing in China: a time bomb or opportunity for prosperity? In: Deng X, Fraser K, Shen J (eds) Ageing population in China: what does it mean to labour market. Springer Nature
Deng X, Fraser K, Pau E (2023) Population ageing in China: a time bomb or opportunity for prosperity? In: Deng X, Fraser K, Shen J (eds) Ageing population in China: what does it mean to labour market. Springer Nature
Guo L, Ge Q (2023) Penalties for childbirth in China: a review of empirical evidence. In: Deng X, Fraser K, Shen J (eds) Ageing population in China: what does it mean to labour market. Springer Nature
Kwan F, Wu Y, Zhuo S (2018) Surplus agricultural labour and China’s Lewis turning point. China Econ Rev 48:244–257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chieco.2017.01.009
Li D, Chen X (2023) Population ageing in China: a time bomb or opportunity for prosperity? In: Deng X, Fraser K, Shen J (eds) Ageing population in China: what does it mean to labour market. Springer Nature
Liang J, Ren Z, Huang W, He Y, Bai X, Xiong C (2021) 2021 report on population forecasting in China (in Chinese). Yuwa Population Institute. https://file.c-ctrip.com/files/6/yuwa/0R7571200096esn24776D.pdf
Liang J, Ren Z, Huang W, He Y (2022) China childbirth cost report 2022 (in Chinese). Yuwa Population Institute. https://file.c-ctrip.com/files/6/yuwa/0R726120009bzjzhb3FD7.pdf
Ma X (2022) Parenthood and the gender wage gap in urban China. J Asian Econ 80:101479. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asieco.2022.101479
Mincer J (1984) Human capital and economic growth. Econ Educ Rev 3(3):195–205. https://doi.org/10.1016/0272-7757(84)90032-3
National Bureau of Statistics of China (NBSC) (2021) China statistical yearbook 2020. China Statistical Publishing House, Beijing
Ng K (2023) Should China worry about its shrinking population? Retrieved from: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-64329890
Office of the Leading Group for the Seventh Census (2021) Major figures on 2020 census of China. China Statistical Publishing House, Beijing
Song J, Li S (2014) Hukou’s impact on labor occupation segmentation. China Agric Econ Rev 6(3):506–522. https://doi.org/10.1108/caer-05-2013-0081
Tan Y, Zuo A (2023) Rural age pensions and rural-urban migration in China. In: Deng X, Fraser K, Shen J (eds) Ageing population in China: what does it mean to labour market. Springer Nature
The World Bank (2021) Life expectancy at birth, total (years) – China. Retrieved from: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.IN?locations=CN
The World Bank (2022) Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+). Retrieved from: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS?locations=CN
Wang Z (2014) China’s “labour shortage” and migrant workers’ lack of social security. Int Labour Rev 153(4):649–658. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1564-913x.2014.00219.x
Whalley J, Zhang S (2007) A numerical simulation analysis of (Hukou) labour mobility restrictions in China. J Dev Econ 83(2):392–410. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdeveco.2006.08.003
Yu G, He N (2023) Informal employment at an older age in China: why your first job matters. In: Deng X, Fraser K, Shen J (eds) Ageing population in China: what does it mean to labour market. Springer Nature
Zhang J, Xiang J (2023) Mapping China’s labour force in 2035 through the lens of two censuses. In: Deng X, Fraser K, Shen J (eds) Ageing population in China: what does it mean to labour market. Springer Nature
Zhang J, Han J, Liu PW, Zhao Y (2008) Trends in the gender earnings differential in urban China, 1988–2004. ILR Rev 61(2):224–243
Zhilian Zhaopin (2019) 2018 Investigative Report on Females in China’s Workplace (in Chinese). Retrieved from: https://special.zhaopin.com/2019/bj/tsjt021150
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Deng, X., Fraser, K. (2023). Population Ageing in China: A Time Bomb or Opportunity for Prosperity?. In: Deng, X., Fraser, K., Shen, J. (eds) Ageing in China. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-9681-8_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-9681-8_1
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-19-9680-1
Online ISBN: 978-981-19-9681-8
eBook Packages: Economics and FinanceEconomics and Finance (R0)