labor-intensive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "labor-intensive" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a process or activity that requires a significant amount of manual labor or human effort. Example: "The production of handmade furniture is often labor-intensive, requiring skilled artisans to craft each piece."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

And wickedly labor-intensive.

The New Yorker

"It's more labor-intensive".

The New York Times

"They're pretty labor-intensive".

The New York Times

The harvest was labor-intensive.

The New York Times - Food

These operations are labor-intensive.

The New York Times

"It's very labor-intensive.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

"But it is labor intensive.

The New York Times - Food

And it's labor intensive.

The New York Times - Travel

Very labor intensive stuff.

Cornell University

Maintaining that edge was labor intensive.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's very labor intensive," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a process as "labor-intensive", consider quantifying the amount of labor involved to provide a clearer picture. For instance, instead of just saying "the process is labor-intensive", specify "the process requires 20 hours of manual labor per unit".

Common error

Avoid using "labor-intensive" as a vague descriptor. Instead, provide context about why it's labor-intensive – is it the complexity, the lack of automation, or the sheer volume of work?

Linguistic Context

The phrase "labor-intensive" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe processes, industries, or tasks that demand significant manual or physical effort. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically sound and commonly employed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Science

16%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "labor-intensive" is a commonly used and grammatically correct adjective that describes activities requiring significant manual effort. Ludwig AI confirms that this is correct and usable in written English. Predominantly found in news and media, it effectively highlights processes reliant on human labor versus automation. For clearer communication, quantifying the labor involved is recommended. Alternative phrases include "work-intensive" and "high-effort", offering stylistic variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

manual labor intensive

Specifies the type of labor involved, emphasizing the manual aspect.

high-effort

Focuses on the significant amount of effort needed.

work-intensive

A direct synonym, simply replacing "labor" with "work".

requiring much manpower

Highlights the need for a large workforce.

heavily staffed

Emphasizes the number of staff members needed.

personnel-heavy

Similar to "heavily staffed", but uses more formal language.

hands-on

Implies direct involvement and manual work.

dependent on manual processes

Highlights the reliance on manual rather than automated methods.

human-resource intensive

More formal alternative, focusing on human resources.

resource-intensive

General term that can include labor but isn't exclusive to it.

FAQs

How to use "labor-intensive" in a sentence?

You can use "labor-intensive" to describe processes or activities that require a significant amount of manual work. For example: "The harvest was "labor-intensive"" or "These operations are "labor-intensive"".

What can I say instead of "labor-intensive"?

You can use alternatives like "work-intensive", "high-effort", or "requiring much manpower" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "labor-intensive" or "capital-intensive"?

"Labor-intensive" describes processes that rely heavily on manual labor, while "capital-intensive" refers to processes that require significant investment in machinery and equipment. They are antonyms and depend on the situation.

What makes something "labor-intensive"?

An activity is considered "labor-intensive" when it necessitates a large amount of human effort, often because it's difficult to automate, requires skilled craftsmanship, or involves meticulous manual processes.