China's Work Force

Today I read in John Bryan Starr's "Understanding China" that in 1999, of the 1.3 billion people in China, 390 million (30%) lived in urban China, while 910 million (70%) lived in rural China (source: 1999 China Statistical Yearbook). What I found particularly interesting is that of the urban population 136 million (35%) were considered part of the work force, while 64% (580 million) of the rural population was considered part of the work force. Why the difference?

THEORIES:

• Rural workers start earlier and retire later
• Urban unemployment numbers are being manipulated by shrinking the size of the work force
• More women in urban settings are staying home instead of joining the work force
• There aren't as many children in urban areas

Just some guesses; interesting, though. That's something I'd like to study.

rUss