#你认为以后打工的人会越来越少吗? #
In recent years, although many still believe that the rural-urban migration trend is slowing, in reality, this movement has continued to grow. According to statistics, by the end of last year, the number of people who had left the countryside to work in the cities had exceeded the 295 million mark. This figure is quite staggering, as the total rural population at the same time was only about 500 million. When the elderly and young who have moved to the cities are excluded from this group, the 295 million people include almost all the young and middle-aged labor force in the rural areas.
However, in the context of this large-scale labor migration, an interesting phenomenon has emerged: the number of people willing to work across cities and even provinces has decreased by more than 2 million compared to the past. This suggests that the majority of rural migrant workers are more likely to work in counties near their hometowns rather than flocking to distant big cities.
This is not because of higher wages in the county, but because of a phenomenon in economics – anti-urbanization – at work. Reverse urbanization is common in some European and American countries, and as large cities reach a certain stage of development, residents begin to feel the pressure of life. Overpopulation has led to longer working hours and intense competition, forcing people to work overtime in order to make ends meet, with wages becoming the only means of competition. Against this backdrop, some middle-aged people are beginning to realize that living in a provincial capital or county may lead to a more relaxed economic environment, more rest time and a better quality of life experience.
As more and more people choose to return, the cost of living and labor prices in large cities are gradually rising, while provincial capitals and county towns are becoming more livable due to the infusion of fresh blood. This change is a natural evolutionary process of social development.
For the younger generation, they have experienced a life of being left behind by their grandparents, and naturally they are not willing to let their children repeat the mistakes of the past. The anti-urbanization way of living and working, because of its emphasis on quality of life, has gradually won the support and recognition of young people. This trend not only reflects people's pursuit of quality of life, but also indicates a new direction for social development.