Abstract:

Flow of migrant workers in large scale is one of the most important social and economic phenomena in China. Choice of migrant destinations is a critical aspect of such movement. On the basis of a field investigation of 1091 sample migrant workers' in 33 villages in Henan Province, this study examines the choice of migrant destinations and influencing factors at a micro scale. The research found that, the flow direction and choice of destination of the migrant workers showed both a decentralized and a centralized characteristic. Distance from home area determined the density of social network and cost of household management, and the level of economic growth in destination areas affected the salary level and employment opportunities. These two factors determined the overall direction of flow of migrant workers. Other significant factors that influenced the choice of migrant workers of migrant destination were age, education level, marital status, number of family laborers, per capita average area of farmland, and economic development of the home villages. The migrant workers who were younger, with lower level of education, married, with more family laborers, and from villages with lower level of economic development had a higher probability to work outside of Henan Province and in more distant places, and vice versa. In addition, migrant workers from households with larger per capita average area of farmland were more likely to work in places further away from the home areas. Household management is an important mechanism for the choice of the migrant destination.

Key words: migrant destination, migrant workers, choices of migrant destination, influencing factors, Henan Province