On The Issue Of China's "Migrant Worker Shortage"

In late 2003, a shortage of migrant workers unexpectedly emerged in China, a country that used to boast an inexhaustible supply of labor force. Afterwards "migrant worker shortage" has been aggravated, prevailing over the country including the under-developed western part of China. The so-called "migrant worker shortage" by no means indicates a substantial reverse of oversupply of labor force but discloses the long-term unbalance of labor force market in China. To a great extent, the shortage reveals migrant workers' silent protest against the unfavorable working condition and unfair remuneration and their longing for a just institutional environment. Migrant worker shortage exposes a series of conflicts and problems, which no only hinder the economic, social, and scientific and technological progress of the country, but also undermine the harmoniousness of the society.This study explores the issue of "migrant worker shortage" against the present social background, which features scientific outlook on development and the idea of constructing a harmonious socialist society. The author adopts such basic research approaches as combining normative and empirical studies, micro and macro studies, logic and historical studies. Based on cost-benefit analysis and supply-demand theory of economics, this paper first gives a systematic review to the theory of rural labor force transfer in industrial age, and then probes into the status quo of migrant worker shortage and its structural features, followed by an analysis of its positive and negative effects. Meanwhile, the author investigates the reasons for such a shortage from various aspects. Finally, in light of the requirements of scientific outlook on development and the idea of constructing a harmonious socialist society, suggested solutions have been put forth to alleviate migrant worker shortage.