Young migrants more educated
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Xinhua, October 10, 2011
The education level of China's new generation of migrant workers has been significantly raised, with more than 5 percent college-educated, according to an official report released Sunday.
The 2011 report on China's floating population, which was made by the country's National Population and Family Planning Commission, said that the new generation of migrant workers are much more educated than the elder generation, as only 2 percent of that group attended college.
The new generation of migrant workers refers to those born after 1980, accounting for 47 percent of the whole with a population of more than 200 million.
Raised by their parents who left villages and provide the labor for China's economic growth, they have enjoyed relatively better living and education standards due to improved financial conditions and adjacency to cities.
The report said illiteracy has almost been eliminated among the post-80s migrant workers, with an average education length of 9.8 years.
The report highlighted a trend of the new generation concentrating on the manufacturing sector, with 46.3 percent in this sector, rather than simple labor.
However, the younger migrant workers still endure low pay and long hours. They frequently are required to work 10 hours a day, six days a week for an average monthly salary of 1,660 yuan (US$260), according to the report.
