Some estimates suggest factories need two million more migrant workers from other parts of China.

The shortages have been highlighted in Chinese media as the country gets back to work after the week-long Spring Festival, or Lunar New Year holiday.

Expectations of higher wages and better working conditions from new workers are being blamed for the labour shortage.

Low pay is a major factor. The companies that find it hardest to recruit, and then retain workers, are those involved in low value, labour intensive manufacturing.

Since last year many Chinese migrant workers found work that paid similar salaries closer to home, working on the infrastructure projects funded by the country’s economic stimulus package.

Beijing’s own research suggests that each new generation of workers is better educated, and has higher expectations in terms of salary, labour conditions and rights than those that came before them.

Source : Konaxis