This paper investigates the change in women workers' position in the labor market in China since economic reforms were started 10 years ago. The reforms which granted enterprises more decision-making power and caused the Chinese government to stop subsidizing maternity leave, time off for breast feeding, and nursery school, resulted in enterprises eliminating 63% to 80% of women workers in light and heavy industries. The study also examines women's access to on-the-job training (OJT) and analyzes problems women workers confront in the labor market. Two kinds of data were collected: literature about women was reviewed, and a survey was conducted in three factories in Beijing in June-July 1990. Interviews were conducted with educational leaders and factory supervisors. A questionnaire was distributed to 600 men and women workers; 505 questionnaires were returned. Two main historical factors contributed to the high involvement of Chinese women in the labor market: women's emancipation and China's economic development. Before the economic reforms, the number of employed women increased and women had a stable position in the labor market. After the economic reforms, women were clustered in low-skilled or unskilled jobs with low salaries. Women workers' educational attainment was better than that of men workers, but this did not help them gain more access to high-skilled and well-paid jobs. There was a positive relationship between OJT and women workers' jobs in terms of qualification, job security, salary, and promotion. Women workers did not enjoy the same access to OJT for these reasons: gender roles, practice of patriarchal ideology, and heavy burden of housework. Government initiative is needed to change women workers' positions in OJT and the labor market. (Contains 19 references.) (YLB)