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Gender dividends in the digital economy: Exploring employment quality for female migrant workers

Author

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  • Wang, Chen-Guang
  • Yin, Xu-Kang
  • Lu, Wei
  • Wang, Wei-Win

Abstract

Owing to institutional segmentation and the gendered division of labor within households, female migrant workers in China face more severe employment discrimination. Using repeated cross-sectional data from the 2013–2021 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS), this study finds that the digital economy significantly improves the employment quality of female migrant workers, generating a discernible gender dividend. Mechanism analysis suggests that this effect operates through two main channels: alleviating the motherhood penalty and strengthening gender equality awareness. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the effect is stronger in the eastern and central regions, in cities with higher levels of marketization, and among disadvantaged groups such as low-skilled workers and those from lower social strata. However, these gains are uneven across dimensions of employment quality, being concentrated in expanded job opportunities and higher earnings, while improvements in rights-based dimensions such as social security and occupational mobility remain limited.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Chen-Guang & Yin, Xu-Kang & Lu, Wei & Wang, Wei-Win, 2026. "Gender dividends in the digital economy: Exploring employment quality for female migrant workers," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 386-399.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:streco:v:79:y:2026:i:c:p:386-399
    DOI: 10.1016/j.strueco.2026.05.015
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