Income Disparity between Males and Females of Floating Population in Shanghai, China

In 2000, the number of floating population was 3.5 million, and the number reached to 9.6 million in 2012, accounting for 40% of the permanent residents in Shanghai. According to China’s censuses in 2010 and 2000, the increase of the number of female floating population was as quick as that of males within the ten years. Now, females are playing increasingly important role in migration stream due to expanded employment opportunities, however, the status of female floating population, especially the income, was lower than their counterparts. This paper explores gender difference in income of floating people in Shanghai.

Data used is from the updated dynamic monitoring survey of the floating population in Shanghai, conducted in May, 2012, which examined the living and development conditions of 14993 floating people at the age of 15 to 59 and 44675 their family members. The interest of this study lies in gender based income difference. We check whether there is income difference between males and females, by using multiple linear regressioncontrolling for potential confounders (age, occupation, education). Then, the comparison of income difference in gender perspective is conducted both before and after floating experience of floating people.