láodònglì: 劳动力 - Workforce, Labor, Labor Force

• Keywords: laodongli, 劳动力, what does laodongli mean, Chinese word for workforce, Chinese word for labor, labor force in China, labor in Chinese, human resources in Chinese, labor capacity
• Summary: Learn the meaning of 劳动力 (láodònglì), a key Chinese term for “workforce,” “labor force,” or “labor.” This entry explores its use in economic and social contexts, its cultural significance tied to China's development, and how it differs from the everyday word for “work.” Understand 劳动力 (láodònglì) to discuss topics like the Chinese economy, demographics, and the labor market.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): láodònglì
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: The workforce, the labor force, or an individual's capacity to perform labor.
• In a Nutshell: 劳动力 (láodònglì) is a formal and often economic term. It doesn't refer to your personal “job,” but rather to the collective group of people available to work in a country or company (the “labor force”). It can also describe the abstract concept of labor as a resource, or an individual's physical ability to work. Think of it as the “power” (力) that comes from “labor” (劳动).

• 劳 (láo): This character means “to labor,” “to work,” or “to toil.” It evokes a sense of effort and exertion.
• 动 (dòng): This character means “to move,” “action,” or “to act.” It's about physical movement and activity.
• 力 (lì): This character means “power,” “strength,” or “force.” Its shape is said to have originated from a picture of a plow, symbolizing strength and effort.

When combined, 劳动 (láodòng) literally means “labor-move,” which is the Chinese word for “labor” or “physical work.” Adding 力 (lì), or “power,” transforms the concept into 劳动力 (láodònglì)— “labor power” or “labor force.” It's the collective strength and potential of the working population.

The term 劳动力 (láodònglì) carries significant weight in modern China, rooted in both socialist ideology and economic reality. In the 20th century, communist theory placed immense value on labor as the source of all value in society. The “working class” was celebrated, and “labor” was seen as a noble contribution to the nation. 劳动力, therefore, wasn't just an economic statistic; it represented the foundational power of the people. In the West, the term “labor force” is primarily a neutral, economic term—one of several inputs to production, alongside capital and technology. While 劳动力 is used this way in modern Chinese economics, it still retains a subtle undertone of this historical, people-centric respect for labor. Discussions about China's “economic miracle” are impossible without mentioning its vast 劳动力. For decades, China's “demographic dividend” (人口红利, rénkǒu hónglì) was its huge, young, and relatively cheap 劳动力, which fueled its manufacturing boom. Today, conversations have shifted to the challenges of an aging 劳动力 and the need to transition from a labor-intensive to a technology-driven economy. Understanding this term is key to understanding China's past, present, and future.

劳动力 (láodònglì) is primarily used in formal contexts. You won't hear someone say, “I'm going to my 劳动力” when they mean “I'm going to my job.”

• In Economics and News: This is its most common usage. It appears constantly in government reports, financial news, and academic discussions about employment rates, labor markets, and economic growth.
  • e.g., `劳动力市场 (láodònglì shìchǎng)` - labor market
  • e.g., `劳动力成本 (láodònglì chéngběn)` - labor costs
• Describing Individual Capacity: In legal or social welfare contexts, it can refer to a person's ability to work. This is a more specific and less common usage for learners.
  • e.g., `他因工伤而丧失了部分劳动力。(Tā yīn gōngshāng ér sàngshī le bùfen láodònglì.)` - He lost part of his capacity to work due to a workplace injury.
• In Business: Companies might discuss their need for `劳动力` when planning for expansion or analyzing their production needs, especially in manufacturing.
  • e.g., `我们公司需要大量廉价的劳动力。(Wǒmen gōngsī xūyào dàliàng liánjià de láodònglì.)` - Our company needs a large amount of cheap labor.

The connotation is generally neutral and descriptive. It is a formal, analytical term.

• Example 1:
  • 中国拥有充足的劳动力资源。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó yōngyǒu chōngzú de láodònglì zīyuán.
  • English: China possesses abundant labor force resources.
  • Analysis: A very common, formal sentence you might read in an economics article discussing China's advantages. “Resources” (资源) is often paired with 劳动力.
• Example 2:
  • 随着人口老龄化，劳动力短缺成了一个严重的问题。
  • Pinyin: Suízhe rénkǒu lǎolínghuà, láodònglì duǎnquē chéngle yíge yánzhòng de wèntí.
  • English: As the population ages, labor shortages have become a serious problem.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights a major contemporary issue in China. It shows how 劳动力 is used to discuss demographic and economic trends.
• Example 3:
  • 这家工厂属于劳动力密集型企业。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngchǎng shǔyú láodònglì mìjíxíng qǐyè.
  • English: This factory is a labor-intensive enterprise.
  • Analysis: 劳动力密集型 (láodònglì mìjíxíng) is a set phrase meaning “labor-intensive.” This is a perfect example of its use in a business or economic context.
• Example 4:
  • 医生证明他已经完全丧失了劳动力。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng zhèngmíng tā yǐjīng wánquán sàngshī le láodònglì.
  • English: The doctor certified that he had completely lost his ability to work.
  • Analysis: Here, 劳动力 refers to an individual's physical capacity for labor, a common usage in legal or insurance contexts.
• Example 5:
  • 提高劳动力素质是国家发展的关键。
  • Pinyin: Tígāo láodònglì sùzhì shì guójiā fāzhǎn de guānjiàn.
  • English: Improving the quality of the workforce is key to national development.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses 劳动力 to refer to the skill level and education of the workforce, not just its size.
• Example 6:
  • 城市吸引了大量农村的剩余劳动力。
  • Pinyin: Chéngshì xīyǐn le dàliàng nóngcūn de shèngyú láodònglì.
  • English: The cities have attracted a large amount of surplus labor from rural areas.
  • Analysis: This describes the phenomenon of migrant workers (农民工). “Surplus labor” (剩余劳动力) is a specific economic term.
• Example 7:
  • 劳动力市场供需不平衡。
  • Pinyin: Láodònglì shìchǎng gōngxū bù pínghéng.
  • English: The supply and demand in the labor market are unbalanced.
  • Analysis: A classic economic phrase. 劳动力市场 (láodònglì shìchǎng) means “labor market.”
• Example 8:
  • 公司正试图降低劳动力成本。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī zhèng shìtú jiàngdī láodònglì chéngběn.
  • English: The company is trying to reduce labor costs.
  • Analysis: A straightforward business context showing how companies view 劳动力 as a cost factor.
• Example 9:
  • 技术进步解放了大量劳动力。
  • Pinyin: Jìshù jìnbù jiěfàng le dàliàng láodònglì.
  • English: Technological progress has freed up a large amount of labor.
  • Analysis: This sentence discusses the impact of automation on the workforce. “Freed up” (解放) here means workers are no longer needed for those tasks.
• Example 10:
  • 合同规定了劳动力的权利和义务。
  • Pinyin: Hétong guīdìng le láodònglì de quánlì hé yìwù.
  • English: The contract stipulates the rights and obligations of the labor force.
  • Analysis: While “workers” might be more natural in English, using 劳动力 here in Chinese is formal and appropriate for a legal document like a contract, referring to the “labor” side of the agreement.

The most common mistake for learners is confusing 劳动力 (láodònglì) with 劳动 (láodòng) and 工作 (gōngzuò). They are not interchangeable.

• 工作 (gōngzuò): This is the everyday word for “job” or “work.” It's what you have or do.
  • Correct: `我今天有很多工作要做。(Wǒ jīntiān yǒu hěn duō gōngzuò yào zuò.)` - I have a lot of work to do today.
  • Incorrect: `我今天有很多劳动力要做。` - This is nonsense.
• 劳动 (láodòng): This refers to the act of physical labor or toil. It's an action or a general concept.
  • Correct: `五月一日是国际劳动节。(Wǔyuè yī rì shì Guójì Láodòngjié.)` - May 1st is International Labor Day.
  • Incorrect: `我的劳动是一家银行。` - This is incorrect. You mean `我的工作 (wǒ de gōngzuò)`.
• 劳动力 (láodònglì): This is the resource or capacity—the workforce as a whole, or an individual's ability to work.
  • Correct: `这个国家缺乏年轻劳动力。(Zhège guójiā quēfá niánqīng láodònglì.)` - This country lacks a young workforce.
  • Incorrect: `我每天八点去我的劳动力。` - This is incorrect. You mean `我去上班 (wǒ qù shàngbān)` or `我去做我的工作 (wǒ qù zuò wǒ de gōngzuò)`.

Think of it this way: A country has a 劳动力 (láodònglì). Those people perform 劳动 (láodòng) when they do their 工作 (gōngzuò).

• 劳动 (láodòng) - The act of labor itself; more general and abstract than `工作`.
• 工作 (gōngzuò) - The most common word for “job” or “work.”
• 工人 (gōngrén) - A worker, especially a blue-collar or industrial worker.
• 人力资源 (rénlì zīyuán) - Human Resources (HR). This is a more modern, corporate equivalent to `劳动力` when referring to a company's personnel.
• 农民工 (nóngmín gōng) - Migrant worker. A huge and crucial part of China's `劳动力`.
• 劳动力市场 (láodònglì shìchǎng) - Labor market. A very common collocation.
• 劳务 (láowù) - Labor services. Often used in the context of contracts and exporting labor.
• 失业 (shīyè) - Unemployment. The state of being part of the `劳动力` but not having a job.
• 人口红利 (rénkǒu hónglì) - Demographic dividend. The economic growth potential that can result from shifts in a population's age structure, mainly when the share of the working-age population (`劳动力`) is larger than the non-working-age share.