China - Labor force, total

The value for Labor force, total in China was 793,776,700 as of 2021. As the graph below shows, over the past 31 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 800,020,900 in 2019 and a minimum value of 641,782,700 in 1990.

Definition: Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.

Source: Derived using data from International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database and World Bank population estimates. Labor data retrieved in September 2019.

See also:

Year Value
1990 641,782,700
1991 649,068,000
1992 658,342,800
1993 668,573,100
1994 678,096,100
1995 685,900,400
1996 697,793,500
1997 705,825,500
1998 711,992,100
1999 719,407,600
2000 729,522,200
2001 735,178,600
2002 743,789,400
2003 753,781,800
2004 762,411,100
2005 768,361,200
2006 772,580,700
2007 774,309,400
2008 774,161,900
2009 773,219,800
2010 772,108,500
2011 778,977,700
2012 782,865,400
2013 786,673,300
2014 791,323,500
2015 795,251,100
2016 797,668,000
2017 799,175,200
2018 799,480,100
2019 800,020,900
2020 792,401,700
2021 793,776,700

Statistical Concept and Methodology: The labor force is the supply of labor available for producing goods and services in an economy. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave. Data are generated with World Bank population estimates and ILO estimates on labor force participation rate. The ILO estimates are harmonized to ensure comparability across countries and over time by accounting for differences in data source, scope of coverage, methodology, and other country-specific factors. The estimates are based mainly on nationally representative labor force surveys, with other sources (population censuses and nationally reported estimates) used only when no survey data are available.

Aggregation method: Sum

Periodicity: Annual

General Comments: Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections.

Classification

Topic: Labor & Social Protection Indicators

Sub-Topic: Labor force structure