Biggest Industries by Employment in China in 2025

1. Cotton Growing in China

Employment number for 2025: 89,000,000

Revenue from the Cotton Growing industry in China is estimated to reach $17.3 billion in 2023, up 6.8% from 2022. Industry revenue is expected to rise an annualized 3.2% over the five years through 2023. These increases have largely been the result of increasing demand from synthetic fiber manufacturers and cotton prices.

China is the largest producer of cotton in the world. China is also the largest global consumer market for cotton, as cotton is one of the main raw materials for many Chinese industries. China has about 50.3 million cotton farming enterprises, mostly households, operating in the industry, with approximately... Learn More

2. In-Home Care & Other Household Services in China

Employment number for 2025: 39,100,000

The In-Home Care & Other Household Services industry in China has developed significantly in recent years. The industry has grown particularly due to the improving income levels of Chinese residents, increasing number of new births and elders, accelerating pace of life, and a high labor force participation rate. Industry revenue is expected to total $126.5 billion in 2022, which is a 14.2% increase from 2021. Moreover, the industry is anticipated to have an annualized growth rate of 13.5% over the past five years. Industry profit is low, with an average of 7.1% of industry revenue in 2022, mainly diminished by... Learn More

3. Building Construction in China

Employment number for 2025: 32,900,000

Over the five years through 2023, revenue for the Building Construction industry is expected to have been growing at an average annualized 4.4%, to $3.0 trillion. This includes an anticipated increase of 4.7% in 2023. There are approximately 36,700 construction firms in this industry. Most major players also have operations in civil engineering, real estate development, professional engineering services, plan designing, building materials manufacturing and construction equipment manufacturing. By operating across different sectors, firms can minimize their costs and maintain stable supply sources.

Larger general contractors are relatively stable and less vulnerable to external influences due to their broad business scope... Learn More

4. Full-Service Restaurants in China

Employment number for 2025: 23,919,000

Full-service restaurants in China account for the largest revenue share of China's catering subsector. Approximately 80% of the total catering subsector's revenue came from the Full-Service Restaurant industry.

The Full-Service Restaurants industry's proportion of the total catering subsector has decreased slightly in recent years, due to the rapid growth of its main external competitor, the Fast-Food Restaurant industry. Nevertheless, industry revenue has grown steadily over the past five years. Industry revenue is expected to increase at an annualized rate of 3.6% over the five years through 2023. This includes 18.7% growth in 2023, to total $643.5 billion, reflecting recovery after the... Learn More

5. Chinese Medicinal Herb Growing in China

Employment number for 2025: 16,453,470

As the production raw materials in the upstream of the industry chain, Chinese Medicinal Herb Growing in China is the basis for the development of the traditional Chinese medicine industry. China began the cultivation and planting of Chinese medicinal materials as early as the Tang Dynasty. The Qing Dynasty began large-scale cultivation of Chinese medicinal materials. However, the large-scale cultivation of many varieties began in the 1950s. At present, it has reached the stage of large-scale, intensive and industrialized cultivation base production. China is one of the largest growing and consumer countries of ginseng and pseudo-ginseng in the world. Rising... Learn More

6. Tobacco Growing in China

Employment number for 2025: 13,940,534

Tobacco is grown on less than 1% of the world's agricultural land and in a wide variety of soils and climates. Since the 1960s, the bulk of production has moved from the Americas to Africa and Asia. Land devoted to tobacco growing has been halved in the United States, Canada and Mexico, but has almost doubled in China, Malawi and Tanzania.

Due to the issuance of China's Tobacco Control Program in late 2012 in response to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), tobacco leaf production capability has been declining since 2013. In 2013, the planting area... Learn More

7. Bridge, Tunnel and Subway Construction in China

Employment number for 2025: 12,964,674

China's Bridge, Tunnel and Subway Construction industry has been growing rapidly, driven by urbanization, a growing population, increasing infrastructure demand and higher government investment. Industry revenue is expected to grow an annualized 8.4% over the five years through 2023, including 6.5% in 2023, to total $1.7 trillion.

Employment numbers are expected to grow at an annualized 5.6% over the five years through 2023. Most bridge, tunnel and subway construction major players also have operations in building construction, real estate development, toll road operation and municipal public management. By operating across different sectors, these firms can decrease costs and maintain stable supply... Learn More

8. Fruit and Nut Growing in China

Employment number for 2025: 12,866,896

China is the world's largest producer of fruits, with a total output of 309.6 million tons and a planting area of 133.1 billion square meters in 2023. Revenue for the Fruit and Nut Growing industry in China is expected to rise at an annualized 8.8% over the five years through 2023, to reach $40.0 billion. This growth includes a 7.7% increase in 2023. Rising domestic demand and expanding fruit varieties have benefited the industry's development.

The industry has been consolidating, with enterprise numbers expected to decline. Entering and exiting the industry is difficult because most fruit and nut trees require up... Learn More

9. Building Completion & Interior Design in China

Employment number for 2025: 12,560,688

Revenue for the Building Completion and Interior Design industry is expected to decrease at an annualized 0.3% over the five years through 2022, to $653.7 billion. This high growth rate is largely due to upstream building construction growth, the wide expansion of interior design enterprises through the combination of online and offline promotion, and consideration of customers' experience. However, revenue is expected to grow by 2.4% in the current year.

Household and public building completion and decoration services are the industry's major service segments, with curtain wall decoration accounting for only a small proportion of industry revenue. Design services are a... Learn More

10. Fast-Food Restaurants in China

Employment number for 2025: 11,039,985

In recent years, lifestyle changes and reduced leisure time have contributed to a consumer shift from traditional full-service restaurants toward fast-food establishments. In addition, increased Western influences in China have boosted demand for fast food. Due to the rapid development of fast-food service providers, improvements in chain store and franchising management, and new brands and food styles, industry growth has been strong over the past decade.

ACMR-Alfabank-Adres estimates that the Fast-Food Restaurants industry in China will generate $176.3 billion in 2023. Revenue is expected to increase by 7.2% in 2023 as the industry recovers from the COVID-19 outbreak. Industry revenue is... Learn More