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.

Graph and download economic data for Employment to Population Ratio for China (SLEMPTOTLSPZSCHN) from 1991 to 2024 about employment-population ratio, China, employment, and population.

In 2023, about ***** million people in China were estimated by the UN to be at a working age between 15 and 64 years. After a steep increase in the second half of the 20th century, the size of the working-age population reached a turning point in 2015 and figures started to decrease thereafter. Changes in the working-age population China's demographic development is characterized by a rapid change from a high fertility rate to a low one. This has caused the development of an arc shaped graph of the working age population: quickly increasing numbers before 2010, a gradual turn with a minor second peak until around 2027, and a steep decline thereafter. The expected second maximum of the graph results from the abolishment of birth control measures after 2010, which proved less successful in increasing birth figures than expected. The same turn can be seen in the number of people eligible for work, with an accelerated downturn in the years of the coronavirus pandemic, where many people left the labor force. It is very likely that the size of the labor force will rebound slightly in the upcoming years, but the extent of the rebound, which parallels the second maximum of the working age population, might be limited. China's labor market China's labor market was once defined by its abundant and cheap labor force, but competition for talent has been getting increasingly tense in recent years. This development is very likely to further intensify and extend itself into the less skilled ranks of the labor market. As the number of people who fall within the retirement age group is increasing and adding to the burden on the economy, steps to keep labor participation high are necessary. Raising the retirement age and providing incentives to stay in the labor force, are measures being implemented by Chinese government. Strategies to increase labor productivity would be ideal to mitigate the pressure on the Chinese economy, however, realizing such strategies is challenging.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Population Ages 15 to 64 for China (SPPOP1564TOZSCHN) from 1960 to 2023 about 15 to 64 years, China, and population.

In 2020, about **** percent of the population in China was of working age between 15 and 59 years. The share of the working age Chinese population has been decreasing since the early 2010s and will shrink further in the coming decades.

The number of employed persons in China decreased to 73439 Tens of Thousands in 2024 from 74041 Tens of Thousands in 2023. This dataset provides - China Employed Persons - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Age dependency ratio (% of working-age population) in China was reported at 44.73 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Age dependency ratio (% of working-age population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

China Total Employment data was reported at 733,510.000 Person th in 2022. This records a decrease from the previous number of 746,520.000 Person th for 2021. China Total Employment data is updated yearly, averaging 746,470.000 Person th from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2022, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 763,490.000 Person th in 2014 and a record low of 647,490.000 Person th in 1990. China Total Employment 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.MSTI: Population, Labour Force and Employment: Non OECD Member: Annual.

The national breakdown by source of funds does not fully match with the classification defined in the Frascati Manual. The R&D financed by the government, business enterprises, and by the rest of the world can be retrieved but part of the expenditure has no specific source of financing, i.e. self-raised funding (in particular for independent research institutions), the funds from the higher education sector and left-over government grants from previous years.

The government and higher education sectors cover all fields of NSE and SSH while the business enterprise sector only covers the fields of NSE. There are only few organisations in the private non-profit sector, hence no R&D survey has been carried out in this sector and the data are not available.

From 2009, researcher data are collected according to the Frascati Manual definition of researcher. Beforehand, this was only the case for independent research institutions, while for the other sectors data were collected according to the UNESCO concept of “scientist and engineer”.

In 2009, the survey coverage in the business and the government sectors has been expanded.

Before 2000, all of the personnel data and 95% of the expenditure data in the business enterprise sector are for large and medium-sized enterprises only. Since 2000 however, the survey covers almost all industries and all enterprises above a certain threshold. In 2000 and 2004, a census of all enterprises was held, while in the intermediate years data for small enterprises are estimated.

Due to the reform of the S&T system some government institutions have become enterprises, and their R&D data have been reflected in the Business Enterprise sector since 2000.

Employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, male (%) (modeled ILO estimate) in China was reported at 41.78 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

This statistic shows the economically active population (labor force) in comparison to the total number of employed persons in China from 2013 to 2023. In 2023, out of 772.16 million economically active persons in China 740.41 million were employed.

Graph and download economic data for Employment to Population Ratio for Hong Kong SAR, China (SLEMPTOTLSPZSHKG) from 1991 to 2024 about Hong Kong, employment-population ratio, employment, and population.

China Population: Age 15 to 59 data was reported at 875.570 Person mn in 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 882.070 Person mn for 2023. China Population: Age 15 to 59 data is updated yearly, averaging 911.290 Person mn from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2024, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 940.720 Person mn in 2011 and a record low of 846.390 Person mn in 2000. China Population: Age 15 to 59 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population.

Hong Kong HK: Employment To Population Ratio: National Estimate: Aged 15-24: Female data was reported at 38.350 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 37.450 % for 2015. Hong Kong HK: Employment To Population Ratio: National Estimate: Aged 15-24: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 36.140 % from Dec 2009 (Median) to 2016, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 38.350 % in 2016 and a record low of 32.920 % in 2010. Hong Kong HK: Employment To Population Ratio: National Estimate: Aged 15-24: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Hong Kong – Table HK.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed. Employment is defined as persons of working age who, during a short reference period, were engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit, whether at work during the reference period (i.e. who worked in a job for at least one hour) or not at work due to temporary absence from a job, or to working-time arrangements. Ages 15-24 are generally considered the youth population.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted Average; The series for ILO estimates is also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

In 2024, approximately 965.65 million people in China were of working age between 15 and 64 years. This was equal to a 68.3 percent share of the total population. Age groups between 30 and 59 years represented the largest age cohorts in the Chinese population pyramid. Age demographics in China The change in China’s age distribution over time displayed in the given statistic illustrates the unfolding of an aging population. As the fertility rate in China declined and life expectancy increased, the only age groups that have been growing over the last three decades were those of old people. In contrast, the number of children decreased gradually between 1995 and 2010 and remained comparatively low thereafter. According to the data provided by the National Bureau of Statistics of China, which has not been revised for years before the 2020 census, the size of the working age population declined in 2014 for the first time and entered a downward trajectory thereafter. This development has extended itself into the total population, which has shrunk in 2022 for the first time in decades. Future age development As the fertility rate in China is expected to remain below the reproductive level, the Chinese society will very likely age rapidly. According to UN data, which is based on figures slightly different from the Chinese official numbers, the share of the population above 60 years of age is projected to reach nearly 40 percent in 2050, while the share of children is expected to remain stable. This will lead to an increased burden of the old-age population on the social security system, illustrated by an old-age dependency ratio peaking at nearly 106 percent in 2090. This means that by then, ten working-age adults would have to support nine elderly people.

Macau MO: Labour Force With Intermediate Education: % of Total Working-age Population data was reported at 69.820 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 70.120 % for 2015. Macau MO: Labour Force With Intermediate Education: % of Total Working-age Population data is updated yearly, averaging 71.650 % from Dec 2009 (Median) to 2016, with 7 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 73.040 % in 2011 and a record low of 69.820 % in 2016. Macau MO: Labour Force With Intermediate Education: % of Total Working-age Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Macau – Table MO.World Bank: Labour Force. The percentage of the working age population with an intermediate level of education who are in the labor force. Intermediate education comprises upper secondary or post-secondary non tertiary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average;

Graph and download economic data for Age Dependency Ratio: Older Dependents to Working-Age Population for China (SPPOPDPNDOLCHN) from 1960 to 2024 about 64 years +, working-age, ratio, China, and population.

China Population: Age 0 to 4 data was reported at 57.537 Person th in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 62.248 Person th for 2022. China Population: Age 0 to 4 data is updated yearly, averaging 68.380 Person th from Dec 1982 (Median) to 2023, with 36 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 116,438.419 Person th in 1990 and a record low of 57.537 Person th in 2023. China Population: Age 0 to 4 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Sample Survey: By Age and Sex.

Employment to population ratio, 15+, female (%) (modeled ILO estimate) in China was reported at 57.19 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Employment to population ratio, 15+, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

According to latest figures, the Chinese population decreased by 1.39 million to around 1.408 billion people in 2024. After decades of rapid growth, China arrived at the turning point of its demographic development in 2022, which was earlier than expected. The annual population decrease is estimated to remain at moderate levels until around 2030 but to accelerate thereafter. Population development in China China had for a long time been the country with the largest population worldwide, but according to UN estimates, it has been overtaken by India in 2023. As the population in India is still growing, the country is very likely to remain being home of the largest population on earth in the near future. Due to several mechanisms put into place by the Chinese government as well as changing circumstances in the working and social environment of the Chinese people, population growth has subsided over the past decades, displaying an annual population growth rate of -0.1 percent in 2024. Nevertheless, compared to the world population in total, China held a share of about 17 percent of the overall global population in 2024. China's aging population In terms of demographic developments, the birth control efforts of the Chinese government had considerable effects on the demographic pyramid in China. Upon closer examination of the age distribution, a clear trend of an aging population becomes visible. In order to curb the negative effects of an aging population, the Chinese government abolished the one-child policy in 2015, which had been in effect since 1979, and introduced a three-child policy in May 2021. However, many Chinese parents nowadays are reluctant to have a second or third child, as is the case in most of the developed countries in the world. The number of births in China varied in the years following the abolishment of the one-child policy, but did not increase considerably. Among the reasons most prominent for parents not having more children are the rising living costs and costs for child care, growing work pressure, a growing trend towards self-realization and individualism, and changing social behaviors.