Migrants and income changes under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic in China: the role of community support

This paper explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on migrant workers in China and examines the role of community support in mitigating the crisis, based on survey data collected from a sample of 524 migrants. The findings reveal that migrants’ income loss is primarily attributed to travel restrictions imposed by government policies rather than a decline in employment opportunities related to short-term economic downturns. Notably, low-educated and low-income migrants appear to face the greatest risk of income loss, a trend that is particularly pronounced in labor-intensive sectors such as manufacturing and construction. Additionally, as migrants have limited access to resources from official channels and their social networks, targeted community support plays a crucial role in helping them cope with these challenges. Our empirical evidence underscores the need for pandemic responses to consider the economic impact on migrants and highlights the necessity of integrating community-based actions into broader strategies.