Analyzing In-Migrants and Out-Migrants in Urban China

Massive urbanization is producing large-scale urban migration in China. Based on the database of the Population Information System of the Health and Family Planning Commission, the spatial characteristics and demographic structural characteristics of migrants have been analyzed at the inter-provincial, intra- provincial and city scales, using Wuhan, China as a case study. A panoramic image of the overall migration in this area has been produced, illustrating that in-migration continues to have a “squeezing” effect on low-skilled jobs with low barriers to entry. There are clear differences between in-migrants and out-migrants; the great majority of in-migrants are fertile women and floating children, and out-migrants have left their children. Moreover, basic public services are insufficient for in-migrants. This paper concludes by presenting a selection of policies to help manage migrants.