Labour Costs in China increased to 58.40 points in August from 54.20 points in July of 2025. This dataset provides - China Labour Costs - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In August 2025, China's monthly labor cost index ranged at **** index points. This was up from **** points in the previous month.

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.

China Competitiveness Indicator: Relative Unit Labour Costs: Overall Economy data was reported at 97.921 2015=100 in 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 98.035 2015=100 for 2024. China Competitiveness Indicator: Relative Unit Labour Costs: Overall Economy data is updated yearly, averaging 74.713 2015=100 from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2025, with 31 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 102.164 2015=100 in 2022 and a record low of 34.753 2015=100 in 1995. China Competitiveness Indicator: Relative Unit Labour Costs: Overall Economy data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s China – Table CN.OECD.EO: Trade Statistics: Competitiveness Indicators In International Trade: Forecast: Non OECD Member: Annual. ULCDR - Indicator of competitiveness based on relative unit labour costs in total economyCompetitiveness-weighted relative unit labour costs for the overall economy in dollar terms. Competitiveness weights take into account the structure of competition in both export and import markets of the goods sector of 53 countries. An increase in the index indicates a real effective appreciation and a corresponding deterioration of the competitive position. Index, OECD reference year OECD calculation, see OECD Economic Outlook database documentation

Hong Kong HK: Labour Cost Index data was reported at 133.119 2010=100 in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 128.286 2010=100 for 2015. Hong Kong HK: Labour Cost Index data is updated yearly, averaging 91.817 2010=100 from Dec 1982 (Median) to 2016, with 35 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 133.119 2010=100 in 2016 and a record low of 26.804 2010=100 in 1982. Hong Kong HK: Labour Cost Index data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Hong Kong SAR – Table HK.IMF.IFS: Wages, Labour Cost and Employment Index: Annual.

According to a survey conducted among U.S. enterprises in China in 2022, ** percent of companies believed labor costs would increase to varying extents. The resources & industrial sector as well as Tech and R&D expected the largest increases, with ** and ** percent of companies respectively anticipating costs per employee rising by * percent or more.

This statistic shows manufacturing labor costs per hour for select countries around the world for the years 2002, 2015 and 2019. In 2019, manufacturing labor costs in China were projected to rise to *** U.S. dollars per hour, up from ** cents in 2002.

Forecast: R&D Labour Costs for Internal R&D Personnel in China 2024 - 2028 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Key information about China Labour Productivity Growth

• China Labour Productivity improved by 5.84 % YoY in Dec 2024, compared with a growth of 4.43 % in the previous year
• China Labour Productivity Growth data is updated yearly, available from Dec 1953 to Dec 2024, averaging at 7.34 %
• The data reached an all-time high of 15.12 % in Dec 1970 and a record low of -26.48 % in Dec 1961

CEIC calculates Labour Productivity Growth from annual Real GDP Index and annual Employment. The National Bureau of Statistics provides Real GDP, at 1978 prices. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security provides Employment. Employment excludes Foreign Nationals working within the country. Real GDP prior to 1979 is based on Real GDP PY=100.


Further information about China Labour Productivity Growth

• In the latest reports, China Population reached 1,408.28 Person mn in Dec 2024
• Its Unemployment Rate remained the same at 5.10 % in Dec 2024
• Monthly Earnings of China stood at 1,392.46 USD in Dec 2023
• The country's Labour Force Participation Rate increased to 65.83 % in Dec 2023

Graph and download economic data for Share of Labour Compensation in GDP at Current National Prices for China (LABSHPCNA156NRUG) from 1952 to 2019 about compensation, China, labor, and GDP.

In 2025, the minimum hourly wage in Beijing was the highest in China at 26.4 yuan per hour. In the past decade, China has been shifting from a cheap labor driven economy to more matured, service-oriented markets and industries. While the economy continues to grow, prices and wages keep on increasing as well. How do wages differ across the country? China’s provinces and municipalities are divided into districts of different levels. Most provinces set different minimum wages for different districts depending on the cost of living and level of development. Usually, provincial capitals and major cities enjoy higher hourly wages than smaller towns and rural areas of the same province. In 2025, the highest minimum hourly wages in China were to be found in Beijing and Tianjin municipalities with 26.4 and 24.4 yuan respectively, whereas employees in Hainan province who received a minimum wage were paid the least – between 16.3 and 17.9 yuan per hour. Minimum monthly wages that year were the highest in Shanghai and the lowest in Qinghai province. The average annual salary in urban China was around 120,700 yuan in 2023. What are the prospects? Regional governments in China are required to update their minimum wages at least every few years. Hebei, Fujian, and Guangdong – provinces that have not adjusted minimum wages in the past two years – are likely to do so in 2025. Along with economic development, increasing living standards, increasing prices and a shrinking labor force, overall minimum wages will likely continue growing in China.

In 2019, the prices for labor and material in China's construction industry increased. Labor costs had an index value of *****, and material costs had an index value of *****. Over the years, expenditure for materials fluctuated, whereas the cost of labor increased continuously. It reflects a broader trend in China's labor market.

The index reflects the level of the total compensation of employees in the economy. The changes in the next to last column show the percent change in the index from three months ago (or the previous quarter if the data are quarterly) and the last column shows the percent change from the same month (or quarter) last year.

Hong Kong HK: Wages Index: % Change data was reported at 3.889 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4.611 % for 2015. Hong Kong HK: Wages Index: % Change data is updated yearly, averaging 5.434 % from Dec 1982 (Median) to 2016, with 35 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.694 % in 1989 and a record low of -11.535 % in 2004. Hong Kong HK: Wages Index: % Change data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Hong Kong SAR – Table HK.IMF.IFS: Wages, Labour Cost and Employment Index: Annual.

Hong Kong HK: Wages Index data was reported at 134.602 2010=100 in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 129.563 2010=100 for 2015. Hong Kong HK: Wages Index data is updated yearly, averaging 92.329 2010=100 from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2016, with 36 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 134.602 2010=100 in 2016 and a record low of 14.334 2010=100 in 1981. Hong Kong HK: Wages Index data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Hong Kong SAR – Table HK.IMF.IFS: Wages, Labour Cost and Employment Index: Annual.

China Social Security Fund: Unemployment: Expense data was reported at 184,180.000 RMB mn in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 148,517.060 RMB mn for 2023. China Social Security Fund: Unemployment: Expense data is updated yearly, averaging 21,450.000 RMB mn from Dec 1989 (Median) to 2024, with 36 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 210,300.540 RMB mn in 2020 and a record low of 200.000 RMB mn in 1989. China Social Security Fund: Unemployment: Expense data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Financial Market – Table CN.ZC: Social Insurance Fund: Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

China CE: Domestic Funded: Non Operating Expenses: Labour Insurance data was reported at 0.350 RMB bn in 2003. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.320 RMB bn for 2002. China CE: Domestic Funded: Non Operating Expenses: Labour Insurance data is updated yearly, averaging 0.320 RMB bn from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2003, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.350 RMB bn in 2003 and a record low of 0.278 RMB bn in 2000. China CE: Domestic Funded: Non Operating Expenses: Labour Insurance data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Wholesale, Retail and Catering Sector – Table CN.RJB: Catering Enterprise: Financial Data: Domestic Funded.

According to a survey among 23,726 workers conducted in December 2024 in China, the average monthly salary of blue-collar workers in the country amounted to 6,150 yuan. This was up from 6,043 yuan in the previous year.

Hong Kong HK: Real Effective Exchange Rate Index: Based on Unit Labour Cost data was reported at 125.056 2010=100 in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 125.251 2010=100 for 2016. Hong Kong HK: Real Effective Exchange Rate Index: Based on Unit Labour Cost data is updated yearly, averaging 116.606 2010=100 from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2017, with 23 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 152.441 2010=100 in 1998 and a record low of 98.961 2010=100 in 2011. Hong Kong HK: Real Effective Exchange Rate Index: Based on Unit Labour Cost data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Hong Kong SAR – Table HK.IMF.IFS: Nominal and Real Effective Exchange Rate Index: Annual.

ABSTRACT: In this study, the labour requirement and labour cost of common vegetable cultivation were investigated to help agricultural enterprises and family farms establishing reasonable “working hour” management systems in Jiangsu Province. The labour requirement of each step of three type of producers, agriculture enterprises, family farms, and private vegetable growers, in three regions in Jiangsu Province, named north, middle and south Jiangsu, was investigated by on-site observation or questionnaire survey during 2018 and 2019. The labour cost of each step and each vegetable was counted according to the labour requirement and the salary level. The results indicated that “residue cleaning”, “soil preparation and bedding”, “plant regulation”, “auxin treatment of tomato flowers” and “hand pollination” accounted for higher proportions of labour cost amongst the entire vegetable culture process. No significant differences in the labour requirements of the investigated vegetables were reported amongst three regions in Jiangsu Province. However, the order of labour cost is south Jiangsu > north Jiangsu > middle Jiangsu, due to the salary difference amongst three regions. Watermelon, broccoli and chive are more suitable for growing by agricultural enterprises since they have relatively low unit labour and high prices. We established a method to calculate and analyze labour requirement and cost of vegetable production in Jiangsu Province, which also may be instructive for other regions. In addition, our results provided useful data for various vegetable producers to improve their labour management.