China’s labor landscape is undergoing a profound demographic transformation as the nation’s workforce approaches a pivotal age milestone. According to the China Human Capital Report 2025 released by the Central University of Finance and Economics’ research center, the average age of Chinese workers is now nearing 40 years, signaling significant implications for the country’s economic future.
The comprehensive study reveals distinct patterns across geographic and gender dimensions. In rural areas, workers averaged 39.66 years in 2023, with men significantly older at 41.6 years compared to women at 39.06 years. Urban centers showed slightly younger demographics, with male workers averaging 40.26 years and female workers 38.07 years.
This aging trend represents a dramatic shift from previous decades. Between 1985 and 2023, China’s overall workforce age increased from 32.25 to 39.66 years—a seven-year maturation that reflects both improved life expectancy and declining birth rates. Urban workers aged from 33.03 to 39.25 years during this period, while rural workers experienced an even more pronounced aging from 31.99 to 40.54 years.
Regional analysis reveals substantial disparities across China. The oldest workforce concentrations are found in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and the northeastern provinces of Heilongjiang, Liaoning, and Jilin, alongside southwestern Sichuan Province. Conversely, the youngest labor forces are located in Hainan Province, Tibet Autonomous Region, Guangdong Province, Guizhou Province, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, presenting very different demographic challenges and opportunities across China’s economic landscape.
The report underscores how this demographic evolution intersects with China’s broader population aging challenges, potentially affecting productivity, innovation capacity, and social welfare systems in coming decades.