Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Labor Shortage in China May Lead to Trade Shift
The New York Times ^ | April 3, 2006 | DAVID BARBOZA

Posted on 04/03/2006 11:48:07 AM PDT by phantomworker

SHENZHEN, China — Persistent labor shortages at hundreds of Chinese factories have led experts to conclude that the economy is undergoing a profound change that will ripple through the global market for manufactured goods.

Nelson Ching for The New York Times

The Well Brain International factory in Shenzhen, China, an appliance maker, has improved salaries and benefits to try to hire more workers.

The shortage of workers is pushing up wages and swelling the ranks of the country's middle class, and it could make Chinese-made products less of a bargain worldwide. International manufacturers are already talking about moving factories to lower-cost countries like Vietnam.

At the Well Brain factory here in one of China's special economic zones, the changes are clear. Over the last year, Well Brain, a midsize producer of small electric appliances like hair rollers, coffee makers and hot plates, has raised salaries, improved benefits and even dispatched a team of recruiters to find workers in the countryside.

That kind of behavior was unheard of as recently as three years ago, when millions of young people were still flooding into booming Shenzhen searching for any type of work.

...

For all the complaints of factory owners, though, the situation has a silver lining for the members of the world's largest labor force. Economists say the shortages are spurring companies to improve labor conditions and to more aggressively recruit workers with incentives and benefits.

The changes also suggest that China may already be moving up the economic ladder, as workers see opportunities beyond simply being unskilled assemblers of the world's goods. Rising wages may also prompt Chinese consumers to start buying more products from other countries, helping to balance the nation's huge trade surpluses.

[see link to read more of the article]

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: china; labor; trade
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-52 next last
China might not have such cheap labor anymore.
1 posted on 04/03/2006 11:48:11 AM PDT by phantomworker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: phantomworker

I know of some Mexicans who would love to do jobs the Chinese won't do.


2 posted on 04/03/2006 11:51:20 AM PDT by SlowBoat407 (The best stuff happens just before the thread snaps.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SlowBoat407

LOL!!


3 posted on 04/03/2006 11:53:45 AM PDT by TruthConquers (Delenda est publius schola)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: phantomworker

A chink in the Chinese economy?


4 posted on 04/03/2006 12:00:59 PM PDT by CROSSHIGHWAYMAN (Toon Town, Iran...........where reality is the real fantasy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CROSSHIGHWAYMAN

How do you get a labor shortage with a Billion people running around?


5 posted on 04/03/2006 12:02:05 PM PDT by edcoil (Reality doesn't say much - doesn't need too)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: phantomworker

Is this why Wal-Mart is going upscale?


6 posted on 04/03/2006 12:02:38 PM PDT by sageb1 (This is the Final Crusade. There are only 2 sides. Pick one.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SlowBoat407

Don't know --- we just had a Mexican-themed party.

The pinatas we bought at El Supermercado were marked "Made In China."


7 posted on 04/03/2006 12:05:28 PM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Many at FR would respond to Christ "Darn right, I'll cast the first stone!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: edcoil

How do you get a labor shortage with a Billion people running around?

Forced sterilization and abortion. 1 child per family law. Some day they will population control themselves out of the gene pool.


8 posted on 04/03/2006 12:06:45 PM PDT by Integrityrocks
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: edcoil
"How do you get a labor shortage with a Billion people running around?"

How do you get a labor shortage anywhere?

Think about it.

How do you get a shortage of anything?

9 posted on 04/03/2006 12:06:46 PM PDT by Southack (Media Bias means that Castro won't be punished for Cuban war crimes against Black Angolans in Africa)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: sageb1

Probably. LOL! I hear they are carrying more and more American made products!


10 posted on 04/03/2006 12:07:51 PM PDT by phantomworker ("We can't move ahead if we're trying to get even." -Frank Tyger)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: edcoil
Even in China, automation is a cost saver. That means jobs require more skill and education. That means that if there aren't enough people to know how to run the machines, maintain them and design them, there is a shortage of skilled workers.

The rumor I've been hearing lately is that Africa is the next continent for cheap unskilled labor.

11 posted on 04/03/2006 12:09:34 PM PDT by doc30 (Democrats are to morals what and Etch-A-Sketch is to Art.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: SlowBoat407
I know of some Mexicans who would love to do jobs the Chinese won't do.

And pretty soon Americans will love to do the jobs the Mexicans won't do. /sarc

12 posted on 04/03/2006 12:11:11 PM PDT by phantomworker ("We can't move ahead if we're trying to get even." -Frank Tyger)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: phantomworker

Should move these to Mexico. Jobs there = less illegals here.


13 posted on 04/03/2006 12:12:01 PM PDT by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Integrityrocks

Excellent points.


14 posted on 04/03/2006 12:12:35 PM PDT by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: phantomworker

The U.S. had 39,000 Chinese illegals they wanted to deport and China refused to accept them. Doesn't make sense if they are needing workers.


15 posted on 04/03/2006 12:13:26 PM PDT by somedaysoon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: doc30
The rumor I've been hearing lately is that Africa is the next continent for cheap unskilled labor.

Sounds good.

16 posted on 04/03/2006 12:13:33 PM PDT by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

Comment #17 Removed by Moderator

To: doc30

Very interesting...


18 posted on 04/03/2006 12:17:31 PM PDT by phantomworker ("We can't move ahead if we're trying to get even." -Frank Tyger)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: phantomworker

They must be having a problem understanding the nature of the industrial revolution. It is not possible to have a labor shortage in modern industry. At McD maybe, but where machines do the work of 100, ten people can do the work of an entire factory by making sure the machines are oiled, the raw materials are neatly stacked, and the product is neatly boxed for air shipment to anxious consumers everywhere on the planet same day. Too much hand work still in the Middle Kingdom, way too much.


19 posted on 04/03/2006 12:17:33 PM PDT by RightWhale (Nothing can evolve which has not been involved)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SlowBoat407

Mexico has actually LOST jobs to China, because the corruption costs outweigh the shipping savings....


20 posted on 04/03/2006 12:19:12 PM PDT by tcrlaf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-52 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson