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for the shrinking labor force is the Chinese one-child policy, which had been in effect for nearly 40 years, until it was revoked in 2016.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.

Key information about China Labour Force Participation Rate

• China Labour Force Participation Rate increased to 65.8 % in Dec 2023, compared with 65.8 % in the previous year.
• China Labour Force Participation Rate is updated yearly, available from Dec 1990 to Dec 2023, with an average rate of 72.1 % .
• The data reached the an all-time high of 79.2 % in Dec 1990 and a record low of 65.8 % in Dec 2022.
• China Labour Force Participation Rate is reported by reported by CEIC Data.
• In the latest reports, China Population reached 1,408.3 million people in Dec 2024.
• Unemployment Rate of China remained the same at 5.1 % in Dec 2024.
• The country's Monthly Earnings stood at 1,392.5 USD in Dec 2023.

The graph shows the number of employed people in China from 2014 to 2024. In 2024, the workforce in China amounted to around 734.4 million people. This marked an annual decrease of six million and is in line with a general downward trend since 2014. Workforce in China China’s total population has been declining since 2022 and dropped by 1.4 million annually to around 1.408 billion as of the end of 2024. This development is also reflected in the number of people in working age which has been shrinking since 2014. The labor force of China, which refers to the population aged 16 and over and capable of working, has been declining since 2016 and ranged at around 772.2 million in 2023. Out of the total number of employed people in 2023, about 470.3 million people were employed in urban areas, while 270.1 million people were working in rural areas. Distribution of the workforce The share of the workforce employed in the primary sector declined significantly from 36.7 percent in 2010 to 22.8 percent in 2023, only interrupted in 2022 by effects related to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the percentage of people employed in the primary sector decreased, the tertiary sector gained importance. As of 2023, about 29.1 percent of Chinese workers were employed in secondary and 48.1 percent in tertiary industries. The share of the workforce employed in the secondary sector increased until 2012 but decreased thereafter due to China's shift towards a service driven economy.

Labor force, total in China was reported at 773879678 in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Labor force, total - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

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.

China Labour Force data was reported at 800,910.000 Person th in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 796,900.000 Person th for 2014. China Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 775,100.000 Person th from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2015, with 19 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 800,910.000 Person th in 2015 and a record low of 705,800.000 Person th in 1997. China Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s China – Table CN.IMF.IFS: Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment: Annual.

China Labour Force: % Change data was reported at 0.503 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.492 % for 2014. China Labour Force: % Change data is updated yearly, averaging 0.598 % from Dec 1998 (Median) to 2015, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.795 % in 2000 and a record low of -2.033 % in 2008. China Labour Force: % Change data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s China – Table CN.IMF.IFS: Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment: Annual.

In 2023, the employment rate in China decreased to around 63.09 percent, from 63.57 percent in the previous year. China is the world’s most populous country and its rapid economic development over the past decades has profited greatly from its large labor market. While the overall working conditions for the Chinese people are improving, the actual size of the working-age population in China has been shrinking steadily in recent years. This is mainly due to a low birth rate in the country.

Economic slowdown – impact on labor market

After decades of rapid development, the world’s second largest economy now seems to have difficulties to boost its economy further. The GDP growth rate indicated a declining trend over the last decade and the number of employed people decreased for the first time since decades in 2015. Under the influence of the global economic downturn, the coronavirus pandemic, and the US-China tensions, many Chinese enterprises are having tough times, which leads to a recession in China’s labor market.

Chances for better employment situation

The long-lasting Sino-U.S. trade war has caused China great loss on its international trade sector, which has been driving China’s economic growth for decades. However, there is also a lot China could improve. First, the potential of domestic demands could be further developed and satisfied with high-quality products. Second, it’s a good timing to eliminate backward industries with low value added, and the high-tech and environment-friendly industries should be further promoted. In addition, China’s market could be more open to services, especially in the financial sector and IT services, to attract more foreign investors. Highly skilled talents should be better valued in the labor market. Efficient vocational education and further education could also help change the structure of China’s labor market.

Key information about Hong Kong SAR (China) Labour Force Participation Rate

• Hong Kong SAR (China) Labour Force Participation Rate remained the same rate at 56.9 % in Jan 2025, compared with 56.9 % in the previous month.
• Hong Kong SAR (China) Labour Force Participation Rate is updated monthly, available from Dec 1981 to Jan 2025, with an average rate of 61.2 % .
• The data reached the an all-time high of 66.2 % in Sep 1984 and a record low of 56.9 % in Jan 2025.
• Hong Kong SAR (China) Labour Force Participation Rate is reported by reported by Census and Statistics Department.
• In the latest reports, Hong Kong SAR (China) Population reached 7.5 million people in Dec 2023.
• Unemployment Rate of Hong Kong SAR (China) remained the same at 3.1 % in Jan 2025.
• The country's Monthly Earnings stood at 2,426.6 USD in Sep 2024.

Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate) in China was reported at 65.39 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Labor participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

In 2023, the share of total population aged 15 and older that participated in the labor force in China ranged at around **** percent. Labor force participation in China has gradually decreased over the last two decades.

CN: Unemployment Rate: % Change data was reported at -2.985 % in Dec 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of -2.228 % for Sep 2017. CN: Unemployment Rate: % Change data is updated quarterly, averaging -0.367 % from Mar 2003 (Median) to Dec 2017, with 60 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.889 % in Mar 2003 and a record low of -6.977 % in Sep 2010. CN: Unemployment Rate: % Change data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s China – Table CN.IMF.IFS: Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment: Quarterly.

Historical chart and dataset showing China labor force participation rate by year from 1990 to 2024.

The female labor force participation rate in China saw no significant changes in 2024 in comparison to the previous year 2023 and remained at around ***** percent. Yet 2024 saw the lowest rate in China with ***** percent. Female labor force participation is the share of women over 15 years who are economically active. For example, all women providing labor in a specific period for the production of goods and services.Find more statistics on other topics about China with key insights such as labor force participation rate for males.

Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) (modeled ILO estimate) in China was reported at 83.76 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Ratio of female to male labor participation rate - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

China: Labor force, million people: The latest value from 2023 is 781.1 million people, a decline from 782.99 million people in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 20.40 million people, based on data from 178 countries. Historically, the average for China from 1991 to 2023 is 747.06 million people. The minimum value, 648.19 million people, was reached in 1991 while the maximum of 782.99 million people was recorded in 2022.

Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) (modeled ILO estimate) in China was reported at 47.17 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (modeled ILO estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

This statistic shows the labor growth in China from 1995 to 2010 and a forecast until 2030. From 1995 to 2010, the labor force in China grew by *** percent.

Labor force, female (% of total labor force) in China was reported at 45.1 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Labor force, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate) in China was reported at 59.56 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Labor participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.