Coping strategies of rural migrant workers in China during and after the pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath presented significant challenges for China's rural migrant workers, leading to widespread unemployment and wage cuts. Facing institutional discrimination, stringent public health measures, and economic downturns, many of these workers and their families demonstrated remarkable resilience by adopting diverse coping strategies. Drawing on face-to-face interviews conducted between 2020 and 2024, this paper examines how rural migrant workers in China adapted to the pandemic's disruptions, with a particular focus on the role of social networks and digital platforms in mitigating economic hardship. The findings show that workers relied on extended social networks—from close personal ties to distant acquaintances—to secure employment and boost earnings. Many also turned to digital platforms to explore new job opportunities and access labor market information disseminated through social media. Despite these adaptive strategies, the economic fallout disproportionately impacted the migrant community. Most rural migrant workers experienced heightened precarity and further social marginalization, underscoring the lasting effects of the crisis. • Digital platforms are vital for rural migrant workers during crises. • Weaker ties have become key for job searches and income generation post-pandemic. • Job-seeking has shifted from traditional labor markets to virtual spaces. • Structural barriers and human capital disparities persist as invisible obstacles.