Spatial mismatch for distinct socioeconomic groups in Xiamen, China

Abstract

Studies have found that spatial mismatch is a universal phenomenon, although both their substantive and methodological focus can differ substantially. In China, there is a growing body of literature on spatial mismatch, but few studies have measured the degree of spatial mismatch between local and migrant workers in different occupations. To fill this gap, this research investigates the spatial mismatch for different socioeconomic groups in Xiamen according to their “hukou” status and occupation. As one of the country’s first four special economic zones, Xiamen achieved housing marketization earlier than most other Chinese cities, attracting a large amount of capital and migrants, and shaping different spatial patterns of local workers and migrant workers. The findings show that blue-collar, pink-collar, and white-collar workers, who are further categorized as either locals or migrants, experience varying degrees of job accessibility and spatial mismatch. In addition, even though migrant workers experience less spatial mismatch, they still have disadvantages in terms of commuting time due to their travel mode. The results presented in this paper are helpful for understanding the spatial mismatch for various social groups and facilitating sustainable mobility and social equity.