A Study on the Mechanism of Macao Youth's Employment and Entrepreneurship in Mainland China from the Perspective of Civil Society Empowerment — An Analysis Based on Grounded Theory

This study investigates the mechanism of Macao youth’s employment and entrepreneurship in Mainland China through the lens of civil society empowerment. Utilizing Strauss and Corbin’s grounded theory approach, we conducted 15 in-depth interviews with Macao youth who have settled in various sectors across the Greater Bay Area. The analysis reveals a dynamic interplay of policy opportunity, social capital mobilization, and civic motivation. A theoretical model of youth transregional mobility and civic engagement is developed, emphasizing institutional mediation and nonprofit pathways. The findings contribute to understanding youth participation in Chinese-style civil society construction and provide implications for policymaking in cross-border youth development.