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The Features of Rural Labor Transfer and Cultural Differences: Evidence from China’s Southwest Mountainous Areas

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  • Shaoyao Zhang

    (Research Center for Mountain Development, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
    School of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Xueqian Song

    (School of Management, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu 610225, China)

  • Jiangjun Wan

    (Department of Urban and Rural Planning/School of Architecture and Urban-rural Planning/Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 610041, China)

  • Ying Liu

    (Research Center for Mountain Development, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China)

  • Wei Deng

    (Research Center for Mountain Development, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
    School of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    Chinese Science Center of the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100107, China)

Abstract

Large-scale rural labor transfer is considered an important means of promoting urbanization and poverty alleviation; however, it has been difficult to fully reveal the complexity of mountain labor transfer using traditional theory. In this study, macrostatistics and microsurvey data were employed to conduct an empirical analysis of rural labor transfer in Xichang, highlighting the regional features of rural labor transfer in the southwest mountainous areas of China. The results show that the employment structure of rural labor is dominated by agriculture; however, its proportion is decreasing annually. The development of secondary and tertiary industries significantly contributes to the non-agricultural employment of rural laborers, who transfer mainly to the building, industry, and consumption fields—especially consumption, which has the greatest ability to absorb surplus rural labor. Migration of the population and farmers’ per capita net income promotes rural labor transfer, while the amount of rural labor, the urbanization rate in townships, agricultural development, and the topography have lagged effects on the process. This study argues that rural labor transfer in the mountains has regionality, multi-pattern, and gradient features; therefore, the promotion of rural labor transfer should consider local urbanization and poverty alleviation in such a manner that aligns with the local natural and socioeconomic conditions of the mountainous areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Shaoyao Zhang & Xueqian Song & Jiangjun Wan & Ying Liu & Wei Deng, 2019. "The Features of Rural Labor Transfer and Cultural Differences: Evidence from China’s Southwest Mountainous Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-15, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:6:p:1522-:d:213483
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Bao-Li Miao & Ying Liu & Yu-Bing Fan & Xue-Jiao Niu & Xiu-Yun Jiang & Zeng Tang, 2023. "Optimization of Agricultural Resource Allocation among Crops: A Portfolio Model Analysis," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-18, October.
    3. Sun, Mingxing & Xu, Xiangbo & Wang, Le & Li, Chang & Zhang, Linxiu, 2021. "Stable energy, energy inequality, and climate change vulnerability in Pan-Third Pole regions: Empirical analysis in cross-national rural areas," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    4. Shaoyao Zhang & Wei Deng & Li Peng & Peng Zhou & Ying Liu, 2020. "Has Rural Migration Weakened Agricultural Cultivation? Evidence from the Mountains of Southwest China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-19, March.
    5. Yuxuan Xu & Jie Lyu & Ying Xue & Hongbin Liu, 2022. "Does the Agricultural Productive Service Embedded Affect Farmers’ Family Economic Welfare Enhancement? An Empirical Analysis in Black Soil Region in China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-22, November.

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