Life’s quality of immigrant workers in Ho Chi Minh City

Abstract
Migration is an indispensable trend in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), and immigrant workers have become an important resource contributing to economic growth. This study aims to clarify the quality of life of immigrant workers and offer a scientific basis for policies that promote the positive contributions of immigrant workers. A linear structural equation model is used to analyze data of 394 observations, including 253 migrant workers and 141 local workers. Quality of life is first assessed by whether immigrant workers can meet or satisfy a variety of their needs. Then the relationship between the needs and outcomes such as income, education, and effort-to-stay is analyzed using a mediator named assimilation. Finally, a comparison between groups such as migrant and local workers, migrants living in HCMC under and over ten years is conducted. The results indicated that employment, settlement, and social support have a direct impact on their assimilation and the strongest indirect impact on effort-to-stay, income, and education. Besides, effort-to-stay and income have a mutual impact. The results also proved that there are differences between migrant workers and local workers but no difference between under 10-year migrants and over 10-year migrants.