Rural Migrant Workers in the Gig Economy in China

Abstract

The proliferation of gig platforms in China has enticed a considerable number of rural migrant workers away from traditional employment in factories and construction sites. This shift enables surplus rural laborers to enter the urban labor market in a unique manner, particularly during economic downturns. Migrant gig workers enjoy flexible work hours and increased spatial and social engagement in the city compared to their counterparts in traditional industries. However, they are also subject to pervasive surveillance and control by platform-based algorithms, leading to distinctive work and lifestyle practices.

This paper delves into how the gig economy contributes to emerging trends in social differentiation among rural migrant workers. Questionnaire survey data are scrutinized within a comparative framework to highlight differences in the conditions and experiences of migrant gig workers compared to regular workers, focusing on aspects such as migration, family arrangements, and daily practices. Participant observation and interviews are utilized to uncover how migrant workers navigate the gig economy and contend with its unconventional forms of surveillance and control.

In a context where gig platforms have proliferated with minimal regulatory oversight, preliminary findings suggest that, while the gig economy provides rural migrant workers with an unconventional means to cope with financial distress, it concurrently fosters significant social stratification within the gig labor force.