In China, urban residents have traditionally been protected against labour market
competition from rural–urban migrants. Over the period of urban economic reform,
rural–urban migration was allowed to increase in order to fill the employment gap as
growth of labour demand outstripped that of the resident labour force in urban
areas. However, as reforms gained pace and controls were lifted, it is plausible that
competition for work between migrants and urban residents would have increased.
The paper examines whether the relationship is one of segmentation or competition
in the labour market. It uses attitudinal responses from two urban surveys. The
urban workers who perceive competition from migrants are those who are most
vulnerable. The findings are consistent with the presence of continued labour
market segmentation, but suggest also that competition between the two groups is
increasing.