The average age of China's labor force reached 39.66 years old in 2023

On December 14th, the Center for Human Capital and Labor Economics of Central University of Finance and Economics released the China Human Capital Report 2025 (hereinafter referred to as "the Report"). Data from the Report shows that the average age of the national labor force in 2023 stood at 39.66 years old. Specifically, the average age of rural males was 41.60 years old, rural females 39.06 years old, urban males 40.26 years old, and urban females 38.07 years old.

From 1985 to 2023, the average age of China's labor force increased from 32.25 years old to 39.66 years old. Among them, the average age in urban areas rose from 33.03 to 39.25 years old, and that in rural areas climbed from 31.99 to 40.54 years old.

Against the backdrop of the gradual fading of the traditional "demographic dividend", China is shifting from its past "quantitative advantage" to a "quality and structural advantage", and the measures to continuously tap into the "new demographic dividend" have achieved initial results.