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Generational Differences in Work Values, Perceived Job Rewards, and Job Satisfaction of Chinese Female Migrant Workers: Implications for Social Policy and Social Services

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  • Siu To
  • Hau Tam

Abstract

This cross-sectional survey study is a pioneering attempt to investigate the generational differences in the work values, perceived job rewards, and job satisfaction of Chinese female migrant workers. The study targeted two toy factories in the Guangdong Province of China and recruited a total of 1,307 female workers as participants. Among them were 577 female migrant workers who comprised the target group for this research. The authors hypothesized that the younger generation of female migrant workers would have higher levels of cognitive work values (such as self-enhancement and career development) but lower levels of perceived job rewards and job satisfaction than those of the older generation. The results indicate that there are no generational differences in work values among the three birth cohorts of Chinese female migrant workers. The older generation felt more satisfied with the job rewards that they received, and their sense of job satisfaction was higher than that of the younger generation. Furthermore, the findings showed a substantial positive influence of perceived social job rewards (such as support from co-workers and supervisors) on job satisfaction among the younger generation. The current findings suggest that in China, generational differences in work are affected by both the generation factor and the rural–urban stratification factor. The authors hope that the study will provide a knowledge base for understanding the perceptions of Chinese female migrant workers toward work and for exploring the ways in which new policies and social services can be developed in order to address their needs. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Siu To & Hau Tam, 2014. "Generational Differences in Work Values, Perceived Job Rewards, and Job Satisfaction of Chinese Female Migrant Workers: Implications for Social Policy and Social Services," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 118(3), pages 1315-1332, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:118:y:2014:i:3:p:1315-1332
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-013-0470-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zhikai WANG, 2011. "Social security for China's migrant workers," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 150(1-2), pages 177-187, June.
    2. Hong-kin Kwok, 2012. "The Generation Y’s Working Encounter: A Comparative Study of Hong Kong and other Chinese Cities," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 33(2), pages 231-249, June.
    3. David A Ralston & Carolyn P Egri & Sally Stewart & Robert H Terpstra & Yu Kaicheng, 1999. "Doing Business in the 21st Century with the New Generation of Chinese Managers: A Study of Generational Shifts in Work Values in China," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 30(2), pages 415-427, June.
    4. Kam Wing Chan, 2010. "The Global Financial Crisis and Migrant Workers in China: ‘There is No Future as a Labourer; Returning to the Village has No Meaning’," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(3), pages 659-677, September.
    5. Carolyn P. Egri & David A. Ralston, 2004. "Generation Cohorts and Personal Values: A Comparison of China and the United States," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 15(2), pages 210-220, April.
    6. Nielsen, Ingrid & Smyth, Russell, 2008. "Job satisfaction and response to incentives among China's urban workforce," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 37(5), pages 1921-1936, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Siu-ming To & Ching-man Lam & Yuk-yan So, 2020. "A Qualitative Study of Rural-To-Urban Migrant Chinese Mothers’ Experiences in Mother-Child Interactions and Self-Evaluation," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 15(3), pages 813-833, July.
    2. Siu-Ming To & Lei Yang & Ming-Wai Yan, 2022. "The Presence of Meaning in Parenthood, Perceived Social Support, and Happiness of Mothers Living in Hong Kong: A Comparative Study on Younger and Older Mothers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-17, February.
    3. Xiao Rong & Zhipeng Zhou & Yihui Su, 2022. "Factors Affecting the Job Satisfaction of Caregivers in a Home-Based Elderly Care Program," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-16, July.
    4. To, Siu-ming & Tam, Hau-lin & Ngai, Steven Sek-yum & Sung, Wai-leung, 2014. "Sense of meaningfulness, sources of meaning, and self-evaluation of economically disadvantaged youth in Hong Kong: implications for youth development programs," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(P3), pages 352-361.
    5. Ching Man Lam & Siu Ming To & Wai Man Kwong, 2020. "Development and Validation of a Questionnaire on Chinese Parents’ Beliefs in Parental Roles and Responsibilities," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 15(3), pages 693-712, July.

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