Resource information
This paper examines the effect of the
financial crisis on off-farm employment of China's
rural labor force. Using a national representative data set
collected from across China, the paper finds that there was
a substantial impact. By April 2009 the reduction in
off-farm employment as a result of the crises was 6.8
percent of the rural labor force. Monthly earnings also
declined. However, while it is estimated that 49 million
were laid-off between October 2008 and April 2009, half of
them were re-hired in off-farm work by April 2009. By August
2009, less than 2 percent of the rural labor force was
unemployed due to the crisis. The robust recovery appears to
have helped avoid instability.
