Gender Disparity and Determinants of Job Satisfaction among Expat Professionals in Mainland China

Meng Bai, Xi'an Jiaotong University
Eric Fong, The University of Hong Kong
Chen Si, Xi’an Jiaotong University
Yiwen Han, Xian Jiaotong University

Job satisfaction is a crucial aspect of immigrant well-being. Despite the rapid increase of expatriate professionals in China, research on their job satisfaction remains scarce. This study, using data from a 2023 survey conducted in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, examines the determinants of job satisfaction among expatriate professionals and explores gender differences. The findings reveal that job satisfaction among expatriate professionals in China is mainly influenced by organization type, perceived opportunities, perceived negative attitudes in the workplace, and the number of friends in China. Female expatriates report significantly lower job satisfaction compared to their male counterparts. This gender disparity can be attributed to the mediating effect of the size of their friend network and the moderating effects of gender on the relationships between income, perceived negative attitudes, and job satisfaction. However, social integration factors such as proficiency in Chinese and localization of social networks, along with variables like Chinese ethnicity, country of origin, and education, do not significantly correlate with job satisfaction. The results underscore the importance of workplace environment and social adaptation in understanding job satisfaction among expatriates in China, providing important insights for policymakers aiming to enhance the expatriate experience.

Keywords: International Migration, Human Capital, Education, and Work, Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination

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