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

The new approach, the research team explains, could replace the current slow, labor-intensive process, ultimately slashing the cost of production. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026

Federal Reserve economists penned a similar note in May, finding that the products driving China’s export boom changed from labor-intensive goods in the early 2000s to capital- and tech-intensive industries now. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026

With the right plant choices, an eye-catching container garden doesn’t have to be labor-intensive. — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Aug. 2026

The project was very labor-intensive, and everything is historically accurate. — Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 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