labor-intensive

adjective

la·​bor-in·​ten·​sive ˈlā-bər-in-ˌten(t)-siv 

: having high labor costs per unit of output

especially : requiring greater expenditure on labor than in capital

Examples of labor-intensive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Even though tile costs a bit more than alternatives and has a labor-intensive installation, it is still selected for its long lifecycle, its contribution to indoor air quality, and its resiliency to fire and water damage. — Jennifer Castenson, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Existing image-to-CAD systems need vast numbers of examples linking 2D images to working CAD programs, but creating those datasets is expensive and labor-intensive. — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 18 July 2026

However, because removal is labor-intensive, this method is feasible for only a small area or for a very minor infestation. — David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 16 July 2026

The approval process for these experimental drugs is expensive and labor-intensive. — C. Michael White, The Conversation, 15 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for labor-intensive

• counteroffensive
• antihypertensive
• apprehensive
• coextensive
• comprehensive
• hypertensive
• hypotensive
• inexpensive
• inoffensive
• normotensive
• defensive
• expensive