Using data from several Chinese censuses and surveys, we provide a new
perspective for the study of international migration. Focusing on the trends
of international migration from China and Fujian province between 1982
and 2000, several findings emerge. First, Fujian and Yunnan provinces
became the leading immigrant-sending provinces in China by 2000. Second,
changes in socio-economic selectivity among emigrants from Fujian
province from 1990 to 1995 are also clearly revealed in our analysis. The
shift from urbanites to rural peasants among the emigrant population is
particularly noteworthy. Third, in the context of Fujian province, factors
such as age, education, rural/urban status, and occupation (especially the
service sector) are the most important predictors of emigration. The paper
ends with a discussion of the prospects of assimilation of Fujianese immigrants
in destination societies.