China’s Demographic Transition and the Impacts on Migrant-Receiving Countries: Australia as an Example

Fei Guo, Macquarie University
Xiujian Peng, Monash University

China is currently experiencing the demographic transition in which the age structure of the population and labour force are at the “optimum” stage. China’s recent rapid economic growth is due partially to its advantageous population age structure, which is described as the “demographic dividend” from which the country has profited in recent years. Migrant-receiving countries have also been benefiting from China’s demographic dividend by importing students and skilled migrants from China. However, as a result of sustained fertility decline in the past three decades, China’s population will soon experience ageing. Using Australia as an example, this paper examines the impacts of China’s demographic transition on migrant-receiving countries. It offers a comprehensive analysis of the impacts of China’s changing age structure, changing domestic labour market and the patterns of intergenerational wealth transfer, on the patterns of skilled and student migration to other countries.