Impact of Psychological Capital and Social Capital on Youth Employment Quality

Using matched CFPS 2022 data, this study examines employed young workers aged 18 to 35 and investigates how psychological capital affects employment quality and whether social capital works as a resource channel. A composite employment quality index is constructed from economic returns, health conditions, social security, employment stability, and job satisfaction, while psychological capital is measured with 16 items. The results show that psychological capital significantly improves youth employment quality, especially job satisfaction. Social capital plays a limited partial mediating role in the pathways to composite employment quality, social security, and health conditions. The marginal effect of psychological capital declines at higher employment-quality quantiles, indicating greater benefits for disadvantaged young workers. By highlighting the joint roles of psychological resources and social-resource channels, this study extends the non-cognitive-capital explanation of youth employment quality and provides empirical evidence for targeted employment services and psychological empowerment for young workers.