Abstract

As the world’s largest labor market, China exhibits a range of distinctive and, at times, puzzling employment phenomena. Using an online survey on working conditions and the best–worst scaling method across 13 dimensions of job values, this study examines variations in working conditions and job value preferences among Chinese workers. The results reveal systematic differences in working conditions, with workers holding second-generation urban hukou and college degrees from better universities enjoying superior job amenities, while female workers face some inferior job attributes. On average, monetary job benefits primarily influence job choice decisions, though job amenities also play a crucial role. Additionally, our findings demonstrate substantial heterogeneity in job values among individuals. Interestingly, expressed job preferences align with actual job choices, suggesting that job values are effective indicators of labor market dynamics. Understanding these variations in working conditions and job value preferences provides essential insights into the Chinese labor market.

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