labor-intensive

adjective

la·​bor-in·​ten·​sive ˈlā-bər-in-ˌten(t)-siv How to pronounce labor-intensive (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In contrast, health care is a labor-intensive industry that’s become more central to the economy as baby boomers retire; the number of people collecting Social Security swelled by more than 2 million last year alone. Conor Sen, Twin Cities, 15 Mar. 2026 In a privacy hedge, maintenance becomes less labor-intensive, too. Markis Hill, Kansas City Star, 15 Mar. 2026 In contrast, health care is a labor-intensive industry that’s become more central to the economy as baby boomers retire; the number of people collecting Social Security swelled by more than 2 million last year alone. Conor Sen, Boston Herald, 14 Mar. 2026 The assessments that were stopped are more labor-intensive than other types of oversight that have been automated, GAO says. Cory Turner, NPR, 11 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for labor-intensive

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of labor-intensive was in 1928

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Cite this Entry

“Labor-intensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/labor-intensive. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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