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

Data centers are enormously capital-intensive and modestly labor-intensive, which is precisely the combination that produces strong output growth and flat payrolls. — Jason Kirsch, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Although the production was long and labor-intensive, Funk wouldn’t have it any other way. — Tania Azhang, Sacbee.com, 6 Aug. 2026

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

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