Impact on Local Economy

Although there is a really low urban-rural disparity due to the low living expense in urban areas, and the commercial oriented large-scale agricultural. There exists a strong pattern of disparity related to ethnicity. Han Chinese tend to be concentrated in more economically developed areas, whereas Uyghurs and other minorities predominate in poorer regions (Wiemer, Xinjiang, 177). Besides, Han Chinese Have disproportionately commandeered the preferred jobs in “staff and work” positions in state and collective units. This class of employment in 2000 covered 59.9 percent of all nonagricultural jobs and 18.7 percent of agricultural jobs for 36.9 percent of the combined total. The non-Han share in this employment was only 30.1 percent, barely half of its 59.4 percent share in the population (Wiemer, Xinjiang, 177).  

 

Moreover, According to Wiemer, massive resource transfers from rest of China have been directed at infrastructure development and mineral extraction. Development creates jobs, but these jobs often go to Han immigrants rather than local minorities, this occurs in part because locals are not willing to offer their labor at the low wages prevailing and because Han bosses favors the workers that share a language and culture(Wiemer, Xinjiang, 188).  From the perspective of many Uyghurs, The state government of Xinjiang has been intentionally leaning and paying more attention on the development in Northern and Central Xinjiang. Introducing more investment to the Han Chinese populated area has increased the sense of unsatisfactory, because they have been the native residents on this land for centuries but they cannot attend the economic activities and has to face the scarily high unemployment rate. Whereas the immigrants from mainland China who do not have any attachment or relationship with this land, have the access to extract and exploit the natural resources from the land.  This may also increase the conflict between these two ethnic groups and lead to social problems.