An Empirical Diagnosis of the School-to-Work Process for Rural and Agricultural Development in China

Rural areas in China struggle with a scarcity of young farmers and the rapid aging of farming labor. Attracting and retaining university graduates in rural areas is key to achieving the goals of The Rural Revitalization Strategy of the government, which ultimately seeks to guarantee sustainable agriculture and food security in China. This study examines whether the school-to-work process in China is beneficially aligned to these goals. Survey data were collected from graduates in June 2016, and logistic models were generated to identify the probabilities of, and explore the influences on, school-to-rural outcomes. The findings reveal that most graduates who relocate to rural areas are more likely directed there from urban areas. Graduates with rural backgrounds are more likely to become rural successors than graduates with urban backgrounds. The phenomenon of children taking up the occupation of a parent is observed among those with agricultural degrees and rural backgrounds, which will facilitate the school-to-work process and improve agricultural production. In order to achieve a mix of family farms, large-scale farmlands, and educated farmers to improve food security and sustainable agriculture, the following key considerations for agricultural policy in China are proposed: provide adequate incentives, remove obstacles, and streamline the process of school-to-farming.