BEIJING, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- Factories in southern China are facing a labor shortage as migrant workers seek better wages and working conditions elsewhere, a government survey shows.
The study, released this week by China's Ministry of Labor and Social Security, said there was an estimated 10 percent labor shortage in the Pearl River Delta, Fujian and Zhejiang provinces, where factories are most concentrated.
The Pearl River Delta alone reportedly requires an additional 2 million workers to meet present needs. About 6 million workers a year arrive in the area from poor inland provinces, but many are moving on after short periods of work, seeking better conditions.
Most affected are manufacturers of toys, shoes and clothing, with some electronics and plastics producers also in trouble, the South China Morning Post reported.
Analysts said a rise in grain prices might have lured some migrants back to their farms, but younger workers, unwilling to put up with low wages and long hours, were seeking better jobs as opportunities increased elsewhere.
