Migrant workers feel like outsiders in mainland cities, says survey

Despite spending years working in mainland cities, migrant workers still feel like outsiders and say their only sense of happiness comes from their families, a Renmin University survey has found.

They also see themselves as the bottom of society and feel alienated because they have no influence on their lives or society in general, the survey found, with young migrant workers even gloomier about their prospects.

The findings underscore the challenge facing the new administration in realising premier-in-waiting Li Keqiang's high-profile commitment to people-oriented urbanisation.

The survey of 2,011 migrant workers, conducted in 20 major cities, found their sense of happiness came mainly from the satisfaction of their basic needs, such as income and education, how close they were to home and how often they could see their children.

Most said they felt that their social standing was very low and they were less happy than those who thought more highly of themselves. More than half of those with low opinions of themselves felt lonely, bored and incapable of having an impact on their lives or society.

The survey also found that migrant workers were not necessarily happier in more economically developed cities, with those in central and western regions where competition was less fierce generally more content.

Professor Hu Ping , from Renmin University's psychology department, which conducted the survey, said the government should pay more attention to the well-being of migrant workers.