Internet Use as a Catalyst for High-Quality Nonfarm Employment Among Rural Laborers in China

High-quality nonfarm employment is crucial for enhancing the livelihoods and well-being of rural laborers in China. This paper investigates how internet use affects the nonfarm employment quality of rural laborers based on data from the China Family Panel Studies over the period 2014-2020. The results show that internet use strengthens the human and social capital of rural laborers, thereby improving their nonfarm employment quality. The effect of internet use varies across employment types and generations. Internet use exerts a stronger positive influence on local employment, younger rural workers, those in non-western regions, and individuals with lower socioeconomic status. The paper provides a new perspective on the role of the internet in rural development and provides empirical evidence supporting the promotion of internet-based high-quality employment for rural laborers in China.