China's rapid urbanization, driven by economic reforms, has led to a massive influx of migrant workers, with new-generation migrant workers (born after 1980) forming the largest group. These workers face challenges integrating into urban life due to cultural, economic, and psychological differences between rural and urban areas. While older generations often struggle with urban exclusion, new-generation migrants generally aspire to integrate into the city. Urban integration, particularly a strong sense of urban integration, is crucial for their successful transition. Traditional research emphasizes vocational skill learning as a prerequisite for urban integration. However, rapid economic and sociocultural changes, including fluctuating job opportunities and industrial upgrading, necessitate a more nuanced approach. Some new-generation migrants successfully upgrade their skills and achieve career growth, while others experience deprivation and struggle with integration. This study proposes that learning ambidexterity—the ability to balance exploitative (refining existing knowledge) and exploratory (seeking new knowledge) learning—is key to navigating these dynamic environments and achieving both career growth and urban integration. The research questions are: 1) Which learning mode (exploitative or exploratory) is more impactful for urban integration, and 2) How does learning ambidexterity affect urban integration in the context of environmental dynamism?

The literature on urban integration of migrant workers, particularly in China, focuses on the relationship between social integration (a broader concept encompassing socioeconomic participation and cultural assimilation) and urban integration (specifically focusing on migrant workers' relationship with urban society). Studies emphasize the role of human capital (skills, knowledge, education) in influencing migrant workers' willingness to settle in cities and their social integration. Research highlights the importance of skill learning in urban employment, including vocational skills, language skills, and information technology skills, as factors that facilitate urban development. However, the literature lacks clarity on how learning affects dynamic goals, such as career growth and sense of urban integration, in increasingly dynamic environments. Ambidexterity theory offers a valuable framework to address these gaps by examining the interplay between exploitative and exploratory learning and its impact on individual adaptation and success in volatile conditions. Previous research has applied ambidexterity theory to organizations and teams, and more recently to individuals, including entrepreneurs and farmers. However, its application to the urban integration of migrant workers in dynamic environments remains relatively unexplored.

This study employed a quantitative approach using a survey questionnaire distributed to 365 new-generation migrant workers in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, China. Stratified random sampling was used to select companies in four cities (Wuxi and Yancheng in Jiangsu, and Hangzhou and Wenzhou in Zhejiang) representing diverse economic conditions. The questionnaire measured four key variables: learning ambidexterity (using a scale adapted from Zhu (2008) and Zheng (2018), encompassing exploitative and exploratory learning), sense of urban integration (based on Luo and Lu's (2013) scale, measuring cultural, regional, economic, and social integration), career growth (using Weng et al.'s (2010) scale), and environmental dynamism (based on Li and Liu's (2012) scale). Control variables included gender, age, and education level. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, reliability and validity testing (Cronbach's alpha and Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure), common method bias assessment, and hierarchical regression analysis to test hypotheses. SPSS 20.0 was utilized for the analysis. The theoretical model proposed a direct relationship between learning ambidexterity and sense of urban integration, mediated by career growth and moderated by environmental dynamism. The study tested hypotheses regarding the positive effects of learning ambidexterity on both sense of urban integration and career growth, the mediating role of career growth, and the moderating effect of environmental dynamism on both relationships.

The regression analysis yielded the following key findings: 1. **Learning ambidexterity significantly and positively impacted both sense of urban integration and career growth.** Exploratory learning showed a stronger effect than exploitative learning on both outcomes. 2. **Career growth had a partial mediating effect on the relationship between learning ambidexterity and sense of urban integration.** This suggests that career growth is a pathway through which learning ambidexterity influences urban integration. 3. **Environmental dynamism positively moderated the relationship between exploratory learning and career growth.** A more dynamic environment enhanced the positive impact of exploratory learning on career advancement. However, this moderating effect was not observed for exploitative learning. 4. **Environmental dynamism also positively moderated the relationship between exploitative learning and sense of urban integration.** A dynamic environment strengthened the positive influence of exploitative learning on urban integration. This moderating effect was not significant for exploratory learning. These findings support most of the hypotheses, showing a complex relationship between learning, career growth, environmental dynamism, and urban integration. The effect sizes (beta coefficients) and significance levels (p-values) are detailed in Table 4 of the original paper.

The findings address the research questions by demonstrating the importance of learning ambidexterity for new-generation migrant workers in China. The positive relationship between learning ambidexterity and sense of urban integration, mediated by career growth, highlights the significance of continuous skill development and career progression in fostering a sense of belonging and integration into urban life. The moderating role of environmental dynamism underscores the importance of adapting learning strategies to the specific context. In dynamic environments, exploratory learning is crucial for career growth due to increased adaptability, while exploitative learning helps workers deepen their skills and enhance integration. These findings extend previous research on the impact of skill learning on urban integration by showing that a balanced approach to learning, incorporating both exploitative and exploratory learning, is necessary for navigating dynamic labor markets and achieving both personal and professional success in the urban context. This supports a shift from a solely skill-based approach to consider the interaction between skill development, career progression, and adaptation to the context.

This study makes several key contributions. It demonstrates the significant role of learning ambidexterity in promoting both career growth and sense of urban integration among new-generation migrant workers in China. It identifies career growth as a key mediating mechanism and highlights the moderating effect of environmental dynamism. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and employers interested in facilitating the successful urban integration of migrant workers. Future research could expand the geographical scope, employ longitudinal data, and investigate the influence of emerging technologies (such as AI) on the findings.

This study has several limitations. The sample was geographically concentrated in the Yangtze River Delta region, potentially limiting the generalizability of the findings to other areas of China. The cross-sectional nature of the data prevents causal inferences. Future studies should address these limitations by using larger, more geographically diverse samples, incorporating longitudinal data to assess causal relationships, and considering the impact of technological advancements.