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.

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.

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

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 4.8 U.S. dollars per hour, up from 60 cents in 2002.

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

According to a survey conducted among U.S. enterprises in China in 2022, 84 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 95 and 86 percent of companies respectively anticipating costs per employee rising by 5 percent or more.

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.

China labor force participation rate for 2023 was 48.32%, a 0.1% decline from 2022.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>China labor force participation rate for 2022 was <strong>48.42%</strong>, a <strong>0.34% decline</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>China labor force participation rate for 2021 was <strong>48.76%</strong>, a <strong>1.87% increase</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>China labor force participation rate for 2020 was <strong>46.88%</strong>, a <strong>3.08% decline</strong> from 2019.</li>
</ul>Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24 is the proportion of the population ages 15-24 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.

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

In 2019, the prices for labor and material in China's construction industry increased. Labor costs had an index value of 103.9, and material costs had an index value of 102.6. Over the years, expenditure for materials fluctuated, whereas the cost of labor increased continuously. It reflects a broader trend in China's labor market.

Wages in Manufacturing in China increased to 103932 CNY/Year in 2023 from 97528 CNY/Year in 2022. This dataset provides - China Average Yearly Wages in Manufacturing - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

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.

This statistic shows the average yearly wages in the manufacturing sector in China from 2012 to 2022. In 2022, the average wages in manufacturing in China increased to approximately 97,500 yuan from 92,500 yuan in the previous year.

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 May of 2025.

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

China Automobile: Full Labour Productivity Rate data was reported at 293,808.200 RMB/Person in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 261,731.620 RMB/Person for 2014. China Automobile: Full Labour Productivity Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 84,895.705 RMB/Person from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2015, with 24 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 316,725.090 RMB/Person in 2010 and a record low of 7,840.000 RMB/Person in 1990. China Automobile: Full Labour Productivity Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Automobile Sector – Table CN.RAF: Automobile Industry: Financial Data.

The cost of one hour of mechanic labor in automotive dealerships reached around 32 U.S. dollars in China in 2020. Hourly costs were overall similar, with less than 10 dollars of difference between the highest cost of labor in dealerships and the lowest cost in independent workshops.

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.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is an important part of China’s new "double-cycle" development pattern. Among the many factors affecting FDI, will the aging population have an impact on manufacturing, the key industry for FDI? This paper examines the direct and indirect effects of an aging population on FDI using panel data from 27 manufacturing sub-industries in China between 2005 and 2020. It is found that (1) the deepening of the population’s aging negatively affects FDI inflows and this result continues to hold after a series of robustness tests. (2) Using labor quantity and labor cost as mediating variables, it is found that the population’s aging indirectly affects FDI by reducing labor quantity and increasing labor cost. (3) The heterogeneity analysis study finds that the deepening of the population’s aging significantly inhibits FDI in labor-intensive and capital-intensive industries among manufacturing sub-industries, and the inhibitory effect on FDI in technology-intensive industries is not significant. This study provides meso-evidence to support the findings of existing studies and provides suggestions and insights for the government to formulate relevant policies to actively cope with aging.

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.