In 2018, manufacturing labor costs in China were estimated to be **** U.S. dollars per hour. This is compared to an estimated **** U.S. dollars per hour in Mexico, and **** U.S. dollars in Vietnam. Manufacturing jobs in the United States Many people in the United States believe manufacturing jobs to be the backbone of the U.S. economy, despite employment in the manufacturing sector decreasing since 1997, and the monthly change in manufacturing employment being highly variable. Although manufacturing added a value of about ** percent to the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) in 2018, employment in the United States has been moving away from manufacturing to other means of employment. A difference in earnings Part of this steering away from manufacturing could be due to a difference in labor costs. While hourly wages in Vietnam were less than * U.S. dollars in 2018, hourly wages in the U.S. manufacturing sector hovered around ** U.S. dollars in 2018. The labor costs in the U.S. could simply be too high for companies, who look to countries such as China, Mexico, and Vietnam for cheaper labor.

Hong Kong Employment: Qtr: Manufacturing: Age 25 to 39 data was reported at 25,200.000 Person in Mar 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 25,500.000 Person for Dec 2017. Hong Kong Employment: Qtr: Manufacturing: Age 25 to 39 data is updated quarterly, averaging 31,300.000 Person from Mar 2008 (Median) to Mar 2018, with 41 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 49,700.000 Person in Dec 2008 and a record low of 23,900.000 Person in Dec 2013. Hong Kong Employment: Qtr: Manufacturing: Age 25 to 39 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Census and Statistics Department. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Hong Kong – Table HK.G021: Employment: GHS: RPA: by Industry HSIC 2.0 and Age.

The statistic shows the distribution of the workforce across economic sectors in China from 2014 to 2024. In 2024, around 22.2 percent of the workforce were employed in the agricultural sector, 29 percent in the industrial sector and 48.8 percent in the service sector. In 2022, the share of agriculture had increased for the first time in more than two decades, which highlights the difficult situation of the labor market due to the pandemic and economic downturn at the end of the year. Distribution of the workforce in China In 2012, China became the largest exporting country worldwide with an export value of about two trillion U.S. dollars. China’s economic system is largely based on growth and export, with the manufacturing sector being a crucial contributor to the country’s export competitiveness. Economic development was accompanied by a steady rise of labor costs, as well as a significant slowdown in labor force growth. These changes present a serious threat to the era of China as the world’s factory. The share of workforce in agriculture also steadily decreased in China until 2021, while the agricultural gross production value displayed continuous growth, amounting to approximately 7.8 trillion yuan in 2021. Development of the service sector Since 2011, the largest share of China’s labor force has been employed in the service sector. However, compared with developed countries, such as Japan or the United States, where 73 and 79 percent of the work force were active in services in 2023 respectively, the proportion of people working in the tertiary sector in China has been relatively low. The Chinese government aims to continue economic reform by moving from an emphasis on investment to consumption, among other measures. This might lead to a stronger service economy. Meanwhile, the size of the urban middle class in China is growing steadily. A growing number of affluent middle class consumers could promote consumption and help China move towards a balanced economy.

Hong Kong Employment: Qtr: Manufacturing: Age 40 and Over data was reported at 75,500.000 Person in Mar 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 77,400.000 Person for Dec 2017. Hong Kong Employment: Qtr: Manufacturing: Age 40 and Over data is updated quarterly, averaging 92,200.000 Person from Mar 2008 (Median) to Mar 2018, with 41 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 116,300.000 Person in Jun 2008 and a record low of 75,500.000 Person in Mar 2018. Hong Kong Employment: Qtr: Manufacturing: Age 40 and Over data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Census and Statistics Department. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Hong Kong – Table HK.G021: Employment: GHS: RPA: by Industry HSIC 2.0 and Age.

Hong Kong Employment: Qtr: Manufacturing: Age 15 to 24 data was reported at 4,300.000 Person in Mar 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4,700.000 Person for Dec 2017. Hong Kong Employment: Qtr: Manufacturing: Age 15 to 24 data is updated quarterly, averaging 4,900.000 Person from Mar 2008 (Median) to Mar 2018, with 41 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8,700.000 Person in Jun 2008 and a record low of 3,100.000 Person in Jun 2015. Hong Kong Employment: Qtr: Manufacturing: Age 15 to 24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Census and Statistics Department. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Hong Kong – Table HK.G021: Employment: GHS: RPA: by Industry HSIC 2.0 and Age.

The statistic shows the distribution of the workforce across economic sectors in China from 2013 to 2023. In 2023, around 22.8 percent of the workforce were employed in the agricultural sector, 29.1 percent in the industrial sector and 48.1 percent in the service sector. This year, the share of agriculture increased for the first time in more than two decades, which highlights the difficult situation of the labor market due to the pandemic and economic downturn at the end of the year.

Distribution of the workforce in China

In 2012, China became the largest exporting country worldwide with an export value of about two trillion U.S. dollars. China’s economic system is largely based on growth and export, with the manufacturing sector being a crucial contributor to the country’s export competitiveness. Economic development was accompanied by a steady rise of labor costs, as well as a significant slowdown in labor force growth. These changes present a serious threat to the era of China as the world’s factory. The share of workforce in agriculture also steadily decreased in China until 2021, while the agricultural gross production value displayed continuous growth, amounting to approximately 7.8 trillion yuan in 2021.

Development of the service sector

Since 2011, the largest share of China’s labor force has been employed in the service sector. However, compared with developed countries, such as Japan or the United States, where 73 and 79 percent of the work force were active in services in 2021 respectively, the proportion of people working in the tertiary sector in China has been relatively low. The Chinese government aims to continue economic reform by moving from an emphasis on investment to consumption, among other measures. This might lead to a stronger service economy. Meanwhile, the size of the urban middle class in China is growing steadily. A growing number of affluent middle class consumers could promote consumption and help China move towards a balanced economy.

In 2023, China's labor force amounted to approximately 772.2 million people. The labor force in China indicated a general decreasing trend in recent years. As both the size of the population in working age and the share of the population participating in the labor market are declining, this downward trend will most likely persist in the foreseeable future. A country’s labor force is defined as the total number of employable people and incorporates both the employed and the unemployed population. Population challenges for China One of the reasons for the shrinking labor force is the Chinese one-child policy, which had been in effect for nearly 40 years, until it was revoked in 2016. The controversial policy was intended to improve people’s living standards and optimize resource distribution through controlling the size of China’s expanding population. Nonetheless, the policy also led to negative impacts on the labor market, pension system and other societal aspects. Today, China is becoming an aging society. The increase of elderly people and the lack of young people will become a big challenge for China in this century. Employment in China Despite the slowing down of economic growth, China’s unemployment rate has sustained a relatively low rate. Complete production chains and a well-educated labor force make China’s labor market one of the most attractive in the world. Working conditions and salaries in China have also improved significantly over the past years. Due to China’s leading position in terms of talent in the technology industry, the country is now attracting investment from some of the world’s leading companies in the high-tech sector.

Unemployment Rate in China decreased to 5 percent in May from 5.10 percent in April of 2025. This dataset provides - China Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Hong Kong Employment: Qtr: Male: Manufacturing (Mfg) data was reported at 70,600.000 Person in Jun 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 69,300.000 Person for Mar 2018. Hong Kong Employment: Qtr: Male: Manufacturing (Mfg) data is updated quarterly, averaging 88,400.000 Person from Mar 2008 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 42 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 114,700.000 Person in Mar 2008 and a record low of 69,000.000 Person in Dec 2017. Hong Kong Employment: Qtr: Male: Manufacturing (Mfg) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Census and Statistics Department. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Hong Kong – Table HK.G021: Employment: GHS: RPA: by Industry HSIC 2.0 and Age.

In 2023, revenue for the Toy Manufacturing industry in China is set to rise by 3.2%, including 3.1% in 2023, to total $44.8 billion. Overall, industry revenue is expected to rise at an annualized 2.1% over past five years through 2023. The industry contributes significantly to employment in China, with 1,624 businesses employing 703,259 people in 2023.China is the largest manufacturer and exporter of toy products, manufacturing over 70% of the world's total. Most of the industry's export businesses provide original equipment manufacturer services to foreign clients, and more than half of these have export licenses. Exports are expected to increase at an annualized 4.4% over the five years through 2023 to total $32.2 billion. Exports have increased from 67.8% of industry revenue in 2018 to an estimated 72.0% in 2023. The new Toy Safety Directive in Europe, implemented in July 2011, has raised trade barriers to the region. In addition, the United States government raised tariffs on imports of toys and components in 2018, which weakened growth in exports to the United States. Exports tend to be higher in quality than the toys sold in domestic markets. In China, flawed products can often injure children. Many products have no company name or date of manufacturing on the packaging. This means victims of faulty toys often cannot seek compensation due to the unknown origin of the toy.Industry revenue is forecast to grow at an annualized 2.3% over the five years through 2028, to total $50.1 billion. Wages and raw material prices, such as the prices of plastics and metals, are projected to continue rising over the period due to higher inflation in China. Increased production costs are projected to reduce profit margins for industry enterprises.

Full employment is important to promote the high-quality development of the urban economy. Using urban-level data on China from 2004 to 2018, we analyse the effects and mechanism of expanding imports on urban manufacturing employment. We use the Guiding Opinions on Strengthening Import to Promote Balanced Development of Foreign Trade issued by the China State Council in 2012 as a natural experiment to solve the endogeneity problem. We find that expanding imports significantly increases urban manufacturing employment. This conclusion is still robust after a series of robustness tests. Further mechanism tests reveal that productivity improvements and upgrades to product quality from expanding imports can explain increased urban manufacturing employment. The results of the heterogeneity analysis show that expanding imports promote manufacturing employment in large and medium-sized cities but not small cities. Expanding imports increases employment in manufacturing in cities in different regions, with the largest effects on eastern cities, the second largest effects on western cities, and the smallest effects on central cities. These results suggest that expanding imports is an effective channel for increasing employment.

Labour Costs in China increased to 60.70 points in May from 59.40 points in April of 2025. This dataset provides - China Labour Costs - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

According to preliminary data, the agricultural sector contributed around 6.8 percent to the gross domestic product (GDP) of China in 2024, whereas 36.5 percent of the economic value added originated from the industrial sector and 54.6 percent from the service sector, respectively. The total GDP of China at current prices amounted to approximately 134.91 trillion yuan in 2024. Economic development in China The gross domestic product (GDP) serves as a primary indicator to measure the economic performance of a country or a region. It is generally defined as the monetary value of all finished goods and services produced within a country in a specific period of time. It includes all of private and public spending, government spending, investments, and net exports which are calculated as total exports minus imports. In other words, GDP represents the size of the economy.With its national economy growing at an exceptional annual growth rate of above nine percent for three decades in succession, China had become the worlds’ second largest economy by 2010, surpassing all other economies but the United States. Even though China's GDP growth has cooled down in recent years, its economy still expanded at roughly two times the pace of the United States in 2024. Breakdown of GDP in China When compared to other developed countries, the proportions of agriculture and industry in China's GDP are significantly higher. Even though agriculture is a major industry in the United States, it only accounted for about one percent of the economy in 2023. While the service sector contributed to more than 70 percent of the economy in most developed countries, it's share was considerably lower in China. This was not only due to China's lower development level, but also to the country’s focus on manufacturing and export. However, as the future limitations of this growth model become more and more apparent, China is trying to shift it's economic focus to the high-tech and service sectors. Accordingly, growth rates of the service sector have been considerably higher than in industry and agriculture in the years before the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

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Staffing Services Market Size 2024-2028

The staffing services market size is forecast to increase by USD 236.6 billion at a CAGR of 6.53% between 2023 and 2028. The market is experiencing significant growth, driven by several key factors. Firstly, the increasing demand for jobs in the labor market continues to fuel the need for staffing services. Secondly, the trend towards remote work and hybrid models has created new opportunities for staffing firms to provide flexible workforce solutions. Lastly, regulatory compliance is a mandatory consideration for staffing services, ensuring adherence to labor laws and industry standards. These factors, among others, are shaping the market landscape and presenting both opportunities and challenges for staffing providers. By staying abreast of these trends and regulatory requirements, staffing firms can effectively meet the evolving needs of their clients and candidates.

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The market encompasses various types of employment arrangements including Contract Staffing and Temporary Staffing. Recruitment agencies play a vital role in providing Employees for businesses, especially for Skilled Candidates who are in high demand. Fixed-term Contracts, Casual Work, and Seasonal Work are common staffing solutions for businesses with fluctuating Workforce Requirements. Online Recruitment has become increasingly popular due to its Cost-effective Hiring benefits and the ability to access a vast Talent Pool. In today's business environment, Staffing Services have become essential for various industries, especially Healthcare, where staff shortages can have serious consequences. Unemployment rates and Business activity influence the demand for Staffing Services. Staffing factoring services and Online factoring platforms offer financial solutions to help businesses manage cash flow during Client payment delays and High client turnover. FinTech companies are revolutionizing the Staffing Services industry with Automated processes, Digital payment solutions, and Blockchain technology. Non-recourse factoring is a popular financing option for businesses. The Staffing Services Market is also witnessing the emergence of Cross-Border Recruitment, Job Opportunities, and Talent Mobility. Job Vacancies and Staffing Needs continue to shape the market, with detailed Job Descriptions guiding the recruitment process.

Market Segmentation

The market research report provides comprehensive data (region-wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in 'USD billion' for the period 2024-2028, as well as historical data from 2018-2022 for the following segments.

Type

  Temporary staffing
  Permanent placement
  Contract staffing
  Outsourced recruitment
  Executive search


End-user

  Information technology
  Healthcare
  Manufacturing
  Finance and accounting
  Others


Geography

  North America

    US


  Europe

    Germany
    UK


  APAC

    Japan


  South America



  Middle East and Africa

By Type Insights

The temporary staffing segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period.The temporary staffing sector holds a substantial share in The market in 2023. This segment caters to the temporary hiring demands of organizations due to short-term projects or seasonal fluctuations. Temporary staffing encompasses a range of jobs, from entry-level positions to specialized roles, across industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, IT, and finance. Key players in The market, including ManpowerGroup, Randstad N.V., and Adecco Group, provide temporary staffing solutions for various industries. ManpowerGroup simplifies the recruitment process for firms of all sizes with their hassle-free temporary staffing offerings. Randstad N.V. Offers flexible hiring options, enabling companies to optimize hiring costs and efficiently onboard skilled professionals in response to changing business and client needs for a limited period.

Financial services, such as recourse factoring, can support staffing agencies in managing their working capital requirements during the staffing process. Regulatory oversight ensures that these services are provided ethically and in compliance with industry standards.

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The Temporary staffing segment accounted for USD 192.90 billion in 2018 and showed a gradual increase during the forecast period.

Regional Insights

APAC is estimated to contribute 33% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. Technavio's analysts have elaborately explained the regional trends and drivers that shape the market during the forecast period.

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In North America, the market experienced significant growth in 2023, with a

Hong Kong Vacancies: Mfg: Other Manufacturing data was reported at 62.000 Unit in Mar 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 93.000 Unit for Dec 2017. Hong Kong Vacancies: Mfg: Other Manufacturing data is updated quarterly, averaging 80.000 Unit from Mar 2000 (Median) to Mar 2018, with 73 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 209.000 Unit in Mar 2013 and a record low of 24.000 Unit in Jun 2009. Hong Kong Vacancies: Mfg: Other Manufacturing data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Census and Statistics Department. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Hong Kong – Table HK.G079: Vacancies: Quarterly Survey of Employment and Vacancies: by Industry: HSIC 2.0.

Growth in the Construction, Decoration and Plumbing Part Manufacturing industry in China has been driven by the developing construction sector. Over the five years through 2023, industry revenue is expected to rise at a CAGR of 3.5%. Revenue is anticipated to increase by 5.0% to reach $45.7 billion in 2023.The industry is characterized by a number of small-scale manufacturers operating in relatively narrow regional or product markets. The four largest players, Xiamen Lota International Co. Ltd., Hebei Hongrun Heavy Industry Co. Ltd., Jinan Meide Casting Co. Ltd. and Sichuan Talida Industrial Co. Ltd., are expected to contribute 9.7% of industry revenue, indicating that industry concentration is low. There are an estimated 2,576 enterprises operating in this industry, up from 2,287 in 2018, reflecting annualized growth of 2.4% over the period. The industry employs 289,835 workers, with a payroll of $2.7 billion. Employment numbers and wages have been growing at 1.7% and 4.7% per year, respectively, over the past five years. Industry profit as a share of revenue is estimated at 5.1%. Profit margins have declined over the past five years, due to increased raw material prices and slowly increasing downstream markets. Furthermore, most operators are small and lack economies of scale.Over the five years through 2028, industry revenue is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 3.8%, reaching $55.2 billion. A key driver of growth is expected to be further development of the construction sector and urgent demand for new houses and decoration, which will likely raise demand for industry products. Nevertheless, profit margins are expected to remain low over the period, due to forecast rapid increases in raw material prices.

As a leading industry in the national economy, circulation industry can not only guide production and consumption, but also play a vital role in absorbing employment. With the progress of science and technology, technical change has penetrated into the circulation industry of China, which has not only improved its development, but also affected its employment. This paper uses the standardized supply-side system approach to measure the biased technical progress of circulation industry in China and investigates the influence of the biased technical progress index on the employment scale of circulation industry in China with panel regression model. We find that the overall technical progress in China’s circulation industry during 2004–2018 is biased toward capital, and the elasticity of substitution between capital and labor is less than 1. We also find capital-biased technical progress in China’s circulation industry is negatively related to the overall employment scale of circulation industry. The heterogeneity analysis indicates that the employment of non-state-owned units in circulation industry is significantly negatively affected by capital-biased technical progress, while state-owned units doesn’t.

In 2023, 43.51 percent of the workforce in India were employed in agriculture, while the other half was almost evenly distributed among the two other sectors, industry and services. While the share of Indians working in agriculture is declining, it is still the main sector of employment. A BRIC powerhouseTogether with Brazil, Russia, and China, India makes up the four so-called BRIC countries. They are the four fastest-growing emerging countries dubbed BRIC, an acronym, by Jim O’Neill at Goldman Sachs. Being major economies themselves already, these four countries are said to be at a similar economic developmental stage -- on the verge of becoming industrialized countries -- and maybe even dominating the global economy. Together, they are already larger than the rest of the world when it comes to GDP and simple population figures. Among these four, India is ranked second across almost all key indicators, right behind China. Services on the riseWhile most of the Indian workforce is still employed in the agricultural sector, it is the services sector that generates most of the country’s GDP. In fact, when looking at GDP distribution across economic sectors, agriculture lags behind with a mere 15 percent contribution. Some of the leading services industries are telecommunications, software, textiles, and chemicals, and production only seems to increase – currently, the GDP in India is growing, as is employment.

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Blast Furnaces Market Size 2024-2028

The blast furnaces market size is forecast to increase by USD 2.52 billion, at a CAGR of 5.95% between 2023 and 2028.

The market is driven by the substantial installed base of blast furnaces, which continues to serve as a significant asset for steel production. This established infrastructure forms the backbone of the iron and steel industry, fueling demand for blast furnaces. Simultaneously, the rising popularity of steel mini mills poses a trend in the market, as these facilities offer cost advantages and increased flexibility compared to traditional integrated steel mills. However, the market faces challenges, including the need for energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. The increasing focus on reducing carbon emissions and minimizing waste is compelling blast furnace manufacturers to innovate and adopt advanced technologies.
Additionally, the volatile raw material prices and intense competition further complicate the market landscape, necessitating strategic planning and operational agility for market participants. Companies seeking to capitalize on the opportunities in this market must stay abreast of technological advancements, optimize energy usage, and navigate the complex regulatory environment.

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The blast furnace market is characterized by its continuous evolution and dynamic nature, with various interconnected elements shaping its landscape. Hot metal production remains a key focus, with blast furnace efficiency a critical factor in optimizing output. The sintering process, which precedes blast furnace operation, plays a pivotal role in ensuring consistent coke quality. Stack gas cleaning, a crucial aspect of blast furnace maintenance, addresses environmental regulations, reducing carbon emissions and improving fuel consumption. Blast furnace reline and automation are ongoing concerns, with advancements in technology driving efficiency and reducing costs. Coke production, a primary fuel source, is influenced by raw material costs and the mining and processing industry.

Blast furnace design and blast furnace lining are essential considerations in maximizing production capacity and minimizing energy consumption. Pig iron production, a key output of the blast furnace, is integral to steel rolling and various casting processes. The metals market, influenced by steel production costs and steel price volatility, impacts the demand for blast furnace operation. The global steel industry is undergoing significant changes, with Electric arc furnaces, direct reduced iron, and tuyere injection gaining popularity. Agglomeration technologies, refractory materials, and ironmaking slag are essential components in maintaining blast furnace operation and safety. Blast furnace optimization, burden management, and iron ore blending are ongoing concerns for industrial equipment manufacturers.

The mining and processing industry, machinery manufacturing, and scrap metal recycling all play crucial roles in the blast furnace market's intricate ecosystem.

How is this Blast Furnaces Industry segmented?

The blast furnaces industry research report provides comprehensive data (region-wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in 'USD million' for the period 2024-2028, as well as historical data from 2018-2022 for the following segments.

Application

  Revamping projects
  Capacity additions


Type

  Hot blast ovens
  Cold blast blowers


Geography

  North America

    US


  Europe

    Russia


  APAC

    China
    India
    Japan


  Rest of World (ROW)

.

By Application Insights

The revamping projects segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period.

Amidst the global steel industry's overcapacity, there's a persistent drive for expansion in various regions. This trend is fueled by the employment opportunities the steel sector offers across its value chain. For instance, the US has imposed tariffs on imported steel from Canada, Mexico, China, and the EU to revive its domestic industry and generate employment. Moreover, the surge in steel prices since 2016 and the industry's rising profitability have further enticed producers to invest in new integrated steel plants. The overcapacity issue, which previously obstructed capacity development from 2013-2016, is gradually being addressed. China, for example, plans to reduce its production capacity to 1,000 million tons per annum (mtpa) by 2025-2026, down from 1,200 mtpa in 2015-2016.

Hot metal production remains a critical focus in the steel industry, with blast furnace efficiency, coke quality, and sintering process being essential factors. Blast

This statistic shows the labor productivity per hour worked in China from 2005 to 2024. In 2024, the estimated labor productivity per hour in China reached **** dollars measured in 2017 constant U.S. dollars PPP.