Why Do Women Have Longer Durations of Unemployment than Men in Post-Restructuring Urban China?

Abstract:     
This paper provides the first systematic analysis of the reasons why women endure longer unemployment durations than men in post-restructuring urban China. This analysis is based upon data obtained from a national representative household survey. Rejecting the view that women are less earnest than men in their desire for re-employment, this analysis shows that women's job search efforts are handicapped by a lack of access to social networks, unequal entitlement to social re-employment services, higher earnings losses from job separations for women, and unfair treatment of women with respect to mandatory retirement.

Keywords: gender inequality, Unemployment duration, China

JEL Classification: J16, J21, J64, J71, R20

Accepted Paper Series