Impact of Educational Attainment of Migrant Workers on Their Happiness Index: A Study from a Human Capital Perspective

Abstract

Happiness is the ultimate goal of human life. With the improvement of people's living environment and the continuous improvement of life quality, people are increasingly fond of using the "happiness index" to measure the development of things and personal living conditions. The 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, promulgated by the Fifth Plenary Session of the Nineteenth Central Committee of the Party, identifies the "three rural" issues— agriculture, rural areas, and farmers—as central concerns requiring attention in the new era. This research examines the educational status of migrant workers in Dongying City through a survey questionnaire covering personal, familial, and societal factors, targeting various urban employment categories. With an unlimited population, a sample size of at least 400 was determined. Data analysis includes descriptive statistics (frequencies, means, standard deviations) and inferential statistics (one-sample t-tests, independent samples t-tests, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression). The study found that younger, married, and higher-income migrant workers report higher happiness levels and a positive work environment enhances happiness. Educational attainment positively correlates with the happiness index; each unit increase in education raises the happiness index by 0.155 units. Higher education has a significant positive impact, with each unit increasing the happiness index by 0.193 units. Enhancing higher education opportunities for migrant workers can effectively improve their overall happiness.