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Arid Land Geography ›› 2026, Vol. 49 ›› Issue (9): 1901-1913.doi: 10.12118/j.issn.1000-6060.2025.825

• Urban Geography • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Differential analysis of influencing factors in jobs-housing relationships incorporating workers’ perception: A case of Urumqi City

ZHOU Yuntian1,2(), DU Hongru1,2(), Ranna HAZIHAN1,2, GUO Jiali1,2   

  1. 1 Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, China
    2 Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2025-12-16 Revised:2026-02-14 Online:2026-09-25 Published:2026-09-07
  • Contact: DU Hongru E-mail:zhouyuntian23@mails.ucas.ac.cn;duhongru@sina.cn

Abstract:

The urban jobs-housing relationship, which directly impacts commuters’ costs and quality of life, is a crucial indicator of high-quality urban development. In-depth analysis of its underlying mechanisms provides a scientific basis for the optimization of urban spatial structure and enhancing resident welfare. Taking Urumqi of Xinjiang, China, as a case study, drawing on data from a 2024 questionnaire survey data and on Baidu heat maps, this study employs the jobs-housing deviation index to classify types of jobs-housing relationships. Using multinomial logistic regression and spatial lag models, it investigates the differential influencing mechanisms across area types. The findings show that: (1) Urban jobs-housing relationships are categorized into three types: jobs-housing balance, housing-led imbalance, and employment-led imbalance. The central urban area of Urumqi is predominantly characterized by a jobs-housing balance, with areas having employment-led imbalance outnumbering those having housing-led imbalance. The spatial distribution pattern is closely correlated with industrial agglomeration and transportation layouts. (2) Individual characteristics, the objective built environment, and subjective perceptions all had significant influence on the jobs-housing relationship. Regarding individual characteristics, travel mode, educational attainment, and occupation type are common influencing factors. In particular, age, household annual income, and number of household members are critical factors in employment-led imbalance areas; gender and occupation impact housing-led imbalance areas; while household registration and age predominantly affect jobs-housing balance areas. The objective built environment influences the functional bias of the streets: medical facilities and BRT stations promote employment functions, while schools foster residential functions. Subjective perceptions significantly affect the commuting behavior of workers in balanced areas, while workers in both types of imbalanced areas mitigate the negative effects of spatial mismatch through behavioral adjustments.

Key words: jobs-housing balance, commuting time, multinomial logistics regression, Urumqi City