Quick Answer: Labor costs in manufacturing are significantly higher in China than in Thailand. In 2025, average annual manufacturing wages in China are around 108,000 CNY (~$15,000 USD), while Thailand’s minimum wage is about 374 THB/day (~$10 USD/day, ~$3,000 USD/year). This makes Thailand a more cost-effective option for labor-intensive manufacturing, though China offers stronger infrastructure and supply-chain maturity.
Comparison of Manufacturing Labor Costs (2025)
| Factor |
China |
Thailand |
| Average Manufacturing Wage |
~107,987 CNY/year (~$15,000 USD) |
~374 THB/day (~$3,000 USD/year) |
| Minimum Wage (2025) |
~2,690 CNY/month (~$370 USD) |
374 THB/day (~$10 USD/day) |
| Labor Cost Index (2025) |
68.4 points (Oct 2025) |
105.78 points (Q2 2025) |
| Workforce Size |
~73 million employed in manufacturing |
~39.8 million employed overall |
| Trend |
Rising wages due to economic maturity and urbanization |
Competitive wages but rising due to minimum wage hikes |
| Strengths |
Advanced supply chains, skilled workforce, innovation capacity |
Lower labor costs, government incentives, growing FDI |
Key Insights
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China:
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Manufacturing wages have risen steadily, reflecting a shift from low-cost production to high-value, skilled manufacturing.
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Average annual manufacturing wage is ~108,000 CNY (~$15,000 USD), which is 5x higher than Thailand’s.
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Strong supply-chain networks, logistics, and infrastructure offset higher labor costs, making China attractive for complex, high-tech manufacturing.
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Thailand:
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Minimum wage in 2025 is 374 THB/day (~$10 USD/day), translating to ~$3,000 USD/year.
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Labor costs remain much lower than China, making Thailand appealing for labor-intensive industries like textiles, apparel, and basic electronics.
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Supported by government-backed projects (Eastern Economic Corridor), Thailand is emerging as a manufacturing hub for EVs, semiconductors, and high-tech sectors.
? Strategic Considerations
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Cost Advantage: Thailand offers a clear labor cost advantage, especially for industries where wages are a major portion of total costs.
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Value Advantage: China, despite higher wages, provides unmatched ecosystem maturity, innovation, and scalability.
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China + 1 Strategy: Many global firms are adopting a “China + 1” approach, keeping advanced production in China while shifting labor-intensive operations to Thailand or India.
Conclusion: If your priority is minimizing labor costs, Thailand is the better choice. If your priority is sophisticated manufacturing with strong supply chains, China remains dominant. Many companies balance both by splitting operations across the two.
Would you like me to also compare non-labor costs (like logistics, infrastructure, and trade policies) between China and Thailand? That often changes the overall competitiveness picture.
Civ6
2025-12-16 09:07:42奇怪,平均工资和最低工资一样?