As China’s Rural Migrants Leave Construction, Those Who Stay Are Earning More
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The proportion of China’s rural migrant workers employed in construction last year fell to its lowest since 2008, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show, amid a prolonged property downturn that’s seen a collapse in investment and activity.
Although the total number of migrant workers from rural areas rose by 0.7% in 2024 to just under 300 million, 14.3% were employed in construction, down from 15.4% the previous year, according to the data, released late last month. The percentage, a 16-year low, compared with 19% in 2021, when the property slump began.
The NBS defines rural migrant workers as those who are still registered in rural areas and work in non-agricultural industries locally or work outside the local area for six months or more.
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- The share of China’s rural migrant workers in construction fell to 14.3% in 2024, the lowest since 2008, while total numbers rose 0.7% to nearly 300 million.
- Most rural migrant workers now work in the services sector (54.6%), and the proportion in manufacturing also increased to 27.9%.
- The workforce is aging, with 31.6% aged 51+ in 2024, and growth in rural migrant worker numbers is slowing.
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