labor-intensive

American  

[ley-ber-in-ten-siv] / ˈleɪ bər ɪnˈtɛn sɪv /

adjective

1. requiring or using a large supply of labor, relative to capital.

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labor-intensive Cultural  

1. A term describing industries that require a great deal of labor relative to capital (compare capital-intensive). Examples of labor-intensive industries are forms of agriculture that cannot make use of machinery and service industries, such as restaurants.

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Etymology

Origin of labor-intensive

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

If workers seek and get bigger pay rises, prices of labor-intensive services will likely rise and the pickup in inflation will last longer.

From The Wall Street Journal

That led to a jump in wage demands and higher prices for a range of labor-intensive services.

From The Wall Street Journal

Much of the employment growth is happening where care is cheapest and most labor-intensive: in private living rooms and outpatient clinics.

From The Wall Street Journal

In labor-intensive sectors —such as healthcare, education, childcare, and housing services — productivity gains are limited.

From MarketWatch

Their firm’s work offers a window into how AI is automating labor-intensive, expensive tasks once controlled by research companies, consultants and Madison Avenue.

From The Wall Street Journal