Help Wanted: China Finds Itself With a Labor Shortage

The New York Times (registration required)

Chinese factories no longer have to hire security guards to keep the job applicants away? This article says “no one thinks China is running out of workers”, but it sounds like conditions are changing. A shortage of 2 million workers is helping workers avoid smaller factories with “bad management and bad working conditions… they aren't attentive to workers.” Cell phones and text messaging are also helping workers compare wages and working conditions. Will this trend help U.S. factories, or will companies just shift jobs to lower wage countries, like Cambodia, India, and Vietnam? What do you think?

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Mark Graban

Mark Graban is an internationally-recognized consultant, author, and professional speaker who has worked in healthcare, manufacturing, and startups. His latest book is Measures of Success: React Less, Lead Better, Improve More. He is author of the Shingo Award-winning books Lean Hospitals and Healthcare Kaizen, as well as The Executive Guide to Healthcare Kaizen. He also published the anthology Practicing Lean that benefits the Louise H. Batz Patient Safety Foundation, where Mark is a board member. Mark is also a Senior Advisor to the technology company KaiNexus.

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