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

To help increase their reach, some home-share programs now supplement or replace the traditionally labor-intensive matching process with online platforms. — Paula Span, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026

The textile industry is moving closer to large-scale automation as humanoid robots begin taking on labor-intensive manufacturing tasks. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 July 2026

Even when the ivy isn’t the original cause of the damage, removing mature vines for repairs can be labor-intensive—and often leaves behind stubborn rootlets that are difficult to remove. — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 26 July 2026

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

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