Firecrackers, which on the new year's eve once went on all night, stopped shortly after midnight. About a quarter of the village's migrants didn't even make it home -- mainly because they had lost their jobs, and were unable to afford the trip or loath to show up with bad news.
The government estimates the total population of rural migrants -- those working outside their home village -- at approximately 130 million people. Mr. Chen said his estimate of 20 million job losses was based on an official survey in January of migrant workers in 15 provinces, which showed 15.3% of respondents had lost their jobs or been unable to find work. He said the total number of migrants looking for jobs this year will likely be at least 25 million, since usually six million to seven million people join the migrant work force each year.
Courtesy: Downturn Idles China's Laborers - WSJ.com
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