Assessing Labor Market Dynamics in Southwest China: An Analysis of Employment and Unemployment Trends 2010-2025

Authors

  • Ziwei Wang

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61173/nrazf854

Keywords:

Southwest China labor market, Employment structure shift, Tertiary sector job creation, Unemployment determinants, Labor market dynamics

Abstract

校验后的结果:

This study conducts a comprehensive analysis of the labor market dynamics within South- west China, covering the period from 2010 to 2025. Amidst China’s broader economic re- structuring, the southwestern region presents a unique case study characterized by rapid urbanization, industrial policy shifts, and significant rural-to-urban labor migration. This pa- per investigates the evolving trends in employment across primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors, alongside a critical examination of unemployment patterns. Utilizing statistical data from national and provincial sources, the analysis employs trend analysis, correlation matri- ces, and multiple regression models. The findings reveal a significant structural shift, with the tertiary (service) sector emerging asthe primary driver of job creation, partially mitigating un- employment pressures from industrial consolidation. The regression analysis indicates that GDP growth and foreign direct investment (FDI) remain significant factors in reducing un- employment, though the elasticity of employment to growth appears to be changing. These results underscore the importance of targeted labor policies that enhance skill development and facilitate labor mobility to align the workforce with the demands of a service-oriented economy.

References

[1] J. M. Keynes, The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money. London: Macmillan, 1936.

[2] National Bureau of Statistics of China, China Statistical Yearbook 2020. Beijing: China Statis- tics Press, 2020.

[3] F. Cai, Demographic transition, demographic dividend, and Lewis turning point in China, China Economic Journal, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 107-119, 2015.

[4] World Bank, China’s Service Sector: A New Engine for Growth and Jobs. Washington, D.C.: World Bank Group, 2019.

[5] A. Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. London: W. Strahan and T. Cadell, 1776.

[6] G. S. Becker, Human Capital: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis, with Special Reference to Education. New York: Columbia University Press, 1964.

[7] W. A. Lewis, Economic development with unlimited supplies of labour, The Manchester School, vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 139-191, 1954.

[8] X. Zhang, J. Yang, and S. Wang, China has reached the Lewis turning point, China Economic Review, vol. 22, no. 4, pp. 542-554, 2011.

[9] J. Knight and L. Li, The in-process transition in the Chinese labour market, in China’s New Role in the World Economy, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012, pp. 89-114.

[10] L. Chen and H. Park, The rise of the private sector and labor market dynamics in urban China, Journal of Comparative Economics, vol. 49, no. 1, pp. 154-171, 2021.

[11] M. Li and S. Wei, Impact of FDI on employment in China’s service sector, Journal of Asian Economics, vol. 55, pp. 20-31, 2018.

[12] S. Chen and R. Wang, Migration, regional development, and poverty reduction in South- west China, Developing Economies, vol. 55, no. 3, pp. 189-207, 2017.

[13] International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook: Dean&Francis ISSN 2959-6149 Regional Projections for Asia. Wash- ington, D.C.: IMF, 2024.

[14] A. H. Studenmund, Using Econometrics: A Practical Guide, 7th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2017.

[15] A. M. Okun, Potential GNP: Its measurement and significance, in Proceedings of the Busi- ness and Economic Statistics Section, American Statistical Association, 1962, pp. 98-104.

[16] Y. Chen and Z. Liu, ”The rise of the gig economy: A case study of platform workers in Chengdu,” Labor and Society, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 45-68, 2020.

Downloads

Published

2025-12-19