Based on the survey data of ten megacities in 2019

this study explores the causes of residents’ working overtime in the context of market-oriented transformation from the perspective of rational choice at the three levels of survival rationality

economic rationality and social rationality. It finds that workers with stronger employment instability

less social security

heavier housing burden and higher consumerism tendency are more likely to work overtime. This study shows that working overtime not only results from the management and control of the labor process by employers

but also is the rational and reasonable choice made by workers in order to meet their own goals at different levels.