Labour Costs in China increased to 62.90 points in September from 58.40 points in August of 2025. This dataset provides - China Labour Costs - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In September 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

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.

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.

This dataset provides values for LABOUR COSTS reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

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 8.05 %
• 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 increased to 5.20 % in Sep 2025
• Monthly Earnings of China stood at 1,438.12 USD in Dec 2024
• The country's Labour Force Participation Rate dropped to 65.39 % in Dec 2024

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.

Wages in China increased to 120698 CNY/Year in 2023 from 114029 CNY/Year in 2022. This dataset provides - China Average Yearly Wages - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

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.

In 2022, Shanghai Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. spent around *** billion yuan on staff remuneration and welfare. The enterprise is one of the largest national pharmaceutical groups in China which owns over ***** pharmacies.

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.

S1 Data - Air pollution and corporate labor cost stickiness: Evidence from China

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

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.

China Convenience Store Climate Index: Store: Labour Cost data was reported at 40.200 % in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 29.600 % for Jun 2018. China Convenience Store Climate Index: Store: Labour Cost data is updated quarterly, averaging 35.100 % from Mar 2017 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 7 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 40.200 % in Sep 2018 and a record low of 29.600 % in Jun 2018. China Convenience Store Climate Index: Store: Labour Cost data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Commerce. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Consumer Goods and Services – Table CN.HSA: Convenience Store Climate Index.

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.

China Real Estate: Labour and Unemployment Insurance Fee data was reported at 7,133.220 RMB mn in 2010. This records an increase from the previous number of 6,048.820 RMB mn for 2009. China Real Estate: Labour and Unemployment Insurance Fee data is updated yearly, averaging 5,696.470 RMB mn from Dec 2007 (Median) to 2010, with 4 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7,133.220 RMB mn in 2010 and a record low of 3,116.730 RMB mn in 2007. China Real Estate: Labour and Unemployment Insurance Fee data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Real Estate Sector – Table CN.RKF: Real Estate Enterprise: All.

Air pollution and corporate labor cost stickiness.