From Job Search to Hiring to Promotion: The Labour Market Experiences of Ethnic Minorities in Beijing

Abstract

Drawing on micro-level census data and interviews with individual workers and employers, this article examines the job-search, hiring and promotion experiences of ethnic minority workers and jobseekers in Beijing. Labour market data indicate that ethnic minorities are at a disadvantage relative to the dominant Han ethnic group, particularly when it comes to employment in high-wage, skilled jobs. The evidence provided here suggests this may be attributable to gaps in the institutional framework that encourage reliance on social-network capital for job search, hiring and promotion.

Winner of the Society for the Study of Social Problems’ Poverty, Class, and Inequality Division Paper Award

Keywords: China, Beijing, Ethnic Minorities, Job Search, Hiring, Promotion