Shanghai Migrant Workers: Survey Results

A total of 207 respondents participated in the survey (August-September 2024)

Main Findings

Cities often pride themselves with promoting social mobility. Most of the migrant workers I interviewed saw Shanghai as a place of economic opportunity, and arrived in this metropolis seeking a better life.

However, for many, their relationship with Shanghai remains fragile and purely economic. Forced increasingly further away from the city by unaffordable housing and deprived of social safety nets by exploitative employment, most migrant workers do not view Shanghai as home. Shanghai works because they do — yet they are often treated as outcasts.

Human cities must not tolerate the marginalization of communities from welfare and protection. Some migrant workers are able to gain new skills and move to higher-paying employment, but these opportunities can be unattainable to those with a lower level of education. Rolling out accessible vocational programs should be a priority. Legislation should be updated to safeguard workers’ social securities under new forms of employment, like the gig economy. Platform applications of new technology should be regulated to mitigate negative impacts on workers.

But this is not an issue particular to Shanghai. Shanghai is just one of many global metropolises that draw people into their orbits. Cities drive change by allowing people and ideas to interact — this a wealth we should draw upon when building inclusive and sustainable cities for the future.

Survey Results

• 93% of respondents stay in rented accommodations. 54% of them stay in urban villages; 40% stay in Qunzufang (group rental housing).

• 74% of respondents are not satisfied with their housing conditions.

• 58% cite the cost of housing as their most major concern. Although only 15% listed location as the greatest challenge, it should be noted that cost and location are closely linked. Because of high cost, most people are forced to move away from convenient locations. Quality and size are other concerns.

• 42% of respondents have an income between 6,000-10,00 Yuan; 41% between 3,000-6,000 yuan: 17% below 3,000 yuan.

• 62% are not satisfied with their income. Only 15% said they were happy about their income.

• 57% of respondents save less than 10% of their monthly income; 22% save between 10-30% of their income; 7% can save between 30-40%.

• 64% spend less than 10% on rent; 30% spend between 10-30% on rent.

• 93% of respondents do not have Shanghai Hukou (Shanghai residency).

• 85% of respondents do not feel a sense of belonging to Shanghai.

• Top 5 causes for the lack of a sense of belonging of the migrant workers in Shanghai are: 1) low income, 2) lack of affordable housing, 3) lack of pension and social welfare support, 4) lack of Shanghai Hukou, 5) lack of skills to move to better job.

• Most respondents working in the delivery service, housekeeping, and ride-hailing have a background in agriculture or manufacturing.

• 81% would like to change their jobs — most would like to go into technical or managerial jobs.

• Most of them have very low education e.g. below junior school. This is one of the major hurdles preventing them from moving up the income ladder.

• However, we also note that 8% of respondents have a university-level education.