Where to migrate? The role of high-speed rail in migrant workers’ employment location decision in China

Understanding the influence of High-Speed Rail (HSR) on employment location decision of migrant workers is critical for optimizing the spatial allocation of labor force. Existing research mostly uses aggregate data of migrant workers, which disregards individual behavioral decision-making variations. To fill this gap, this study aims to delve into the impact of HSR on migrant workers' intercity employment location choice in China using data from the China Migrant Dynamics Survey (CMDS). This paper develops a theoretical model that combines income growth, unemployment rates, information constraints and intervening costs to investigate how HSR impacts migrant workers' decision, complemented by an empirical analysis using a conditional logit model and investigating individual heterogeneity. Relying on a sample of 89,801 migrant workers over the period 2011–2017, the results indicate that HSR significantly increases a city's allure for migrant workers, with HSR accessibility exerting a more profound influence compared to HSR connectivity. Migrants who are female, young (aged 16 to 29), unmarried, having no kids, working in secondary industry or foreign enterprises, with non-urban hukou or crossing provinces demonstrate a heightened sensitivity to both HSR connectivity and accessibility. Furthermore, the willingness to pay of migrant labor is highest for the operation of HSR, followed by improvements in accessibility, and then by enhancements in connectivity. By considering these diverse factors, our study provides a more nuanced understanding of how HSR shapes employment location choices for migrant workers in China, highlighting the significance of accessibility and connectivity in determining the labor migration.