China-U.S. differences in tie strength and job-search outcomes: a societal-cultural comparison

Abstract What are the differences in the use and relative efficacies of strong and weak ties during job searches between China and the United States? Analyzing a survey data of identical measures between China and the U.S., I find that: (1) Chinese are less likely than Americans to use social ties to seek jobs; (2) while Chinese tend to use strong ties, Americans tend to use weak ties; (3) in both countries, weak ties are more effective than strong ties in helping job seekers connect with high-status contacts, who in turn are associated with better employment outcomes, for both Chinese and their American counterparts; but (4) independent of the association with contact status, weak ties show a negative association with obtained job status for Chinese, but a positive association with it for Americans. I develop a cultural argument of social-interactive orientations toward Chinese particularism and American universalism to explain these patterns. This study enriches cross-cultural comparative studies of social networks, provides a theoretical basis for understanding the cultural underpinnings and historical evolution of social interaction patterns in China, and lays an empirical and conceptual foundation for exploring how digitalization and institutionalization may reshape patterns of job-search network use in the future.