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How did the one-child policy affect the size of China’s workforce?

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What was China's one-child policy? — one-child policy Learn more about China's one-child policy.

The one-child policy, implemented by the Chinese government in 1980 to curb population growth, significantly impacted the nation's labor force by contributing to a long-term demographic shift.12

By drastically reducing fertility rates and birth rates, the policy led to a rapidly aging population. As the generations born under these restrictions reached adulthood, the country faced a shrinking workforce. This decline in the working-age population, coupled with an aging demographic, has created an ongoing economic challenge for China.12

Furthermore, the policy’s strict enforcement resulted in many "undocumented" children who were born in violation of the rules; these individuals often faced significant barriers in accessing education and securing formal employment, further complicating the labor landscape. Even after the policy was rescinded in 2016, birth rates remained low, cementing the trend of a diminishing labor supply.21