41.4% of "new generation migrant workers" hope to settle down in cities where they work

The "new generation migrant workers" have become an inseparable part of urban cities. 89.3 percent of urban youngsters agree that a city would not operate efficiently without migrant workers, and those who disagree occupy only 6.4 percent, according to an online survey conducted by the Social Survey Center of China Youth Daily as of 7 pm March 9.

The term "new generation migrant worker" was coined in the 2010 Central Document No.1, and immediately aroused the interest of the media. "As I talk with my fellow workers, they do not want to return to the countryside. Even if they cannot stay in big cities like Beijing, they will go to some small and medium-sized cities," Sun Heng, head of the Art Ensemble of New Generation Workers and director-general of Home of Workers, told reporters.

He added, "since arable land is limited for comparatively too large a population in China, it would be unrealistic for all migrant workers to return to the countryside where they would be unemployed. The megatrend is that they will live and work in cities."

Of the 2,381 urban youngsters surveyed, 65.5 percent agree that migrant workers hope to settle down in small and medium-sized cities near their hometowns; 33.7 percent choose towns; 32.8 percent think that the "new generation migrant workers" are most likely to settle down in cities where they are now working; and 28 percent anticipate that they may return to the countryside.

However, more of the "new generation migrant workers" hope to settle down in cities than urban youngsters expected. Of the 346 migrant workers surveyed, 41.4 percent want to settle down in cities where they are now working; 61.2 percent prefer small and medium-sized cities near their hometowns; 29.7 percent would like to return their rural hometowns; and 23.3 percent are willing to live in towns.

By People's Daily Online