labour intensive

USAGE SUMMARY

'labour intensive' is correct and usable in written English.
It typically means 'involving a lot of manual or physical work'. You could use it in a sentence such as: The construction of the new medical center was a labour intensive process, taking six months to complete.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

Dealing with Ebola is labour intensive.

The Guardian

The ships would be labour intensive.

The Guardian - Opinion

Audits are time and labour intensive.

The Guardian - Opinion

Most of our agricultural concessions are very labour intensive.

The Guardian

Opera doesn't, because it's just too labour intensive".

The Guardian - Music

Fulfilling them is labour intensive so I help out.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

It's a labour-intensive process.

Independent

Organising workforces is labour-intensive.

The Economist

It's a fiddly, labour-intensive process.

The Economist

Computers make this work less labour-intensive.

The Economist

But the work is labour-intensive.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing processes that are "labour intensive", provide specific examples of the tasks involved to highlight the extent of human effort required.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that something is "labour intensive" without explaining why. Describe the specific steps or requirements that make it so, to provide a clearer understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "labour intensive" functions primarily as an adjective phrase. It modifies nouns to describe processes, industries, or tasks that require a significant amount of human effort or manual work. Ludwig AI confirms that is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

46%

News & Media

42%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "labour intensive" is a common and correct adjective phrase used to describe processes that require significant human effort. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. It appears frequently in scientific, news, and formal business contexts, as demonstrated by the numerous examples provided. When using this phrase, ensure you provide context to explain why something is "labour intensive" to provide readers with a clear understanding. Consider alternatives such as "manual labor-heavy" or "work-intensive" for varied expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Manual labor-heavy

Emphasizes the physical and manual aspect of the work involved.

High manual effort

Highlights the considerable amount of manual work required.

Work-intensive

A more general term indicating a significant amount of work is needed, encompassing both manual and intellectual labor.

Requires considerable manpower

Focuses on the need for a large workforce to complete the task.

Extensive human resources required

A more formal way of saying that a lot of people are needed.

Hands-on

Highlights the direct, physical involvement required.

Demands significant staffing

Similar to requiring considerable manpower, this emphasizes the need for staff.

Heavy on human capital

Refers to the large investment in human resources needed.

Involves a lot of hands

Directly points out that the task requires the involvement of many individuals.

People-intensive

Similar to requiring considerable manpower, this emphasizes the need for staff.

FAQs

How can I use "labour intensive" in a sentence?

You can use "labour intensive" to describe processes or industries that require a significant amount of manual work or human effort. For example: "Agriculture is often a "labour intensive" industry, especially during harvest season."

What's the difference between "labour intensive" and "capital intensive"?

"Labour intensive" refers to processes that rely heavily on human work, while "capital intensive" describes processes that rely heavily on machinery and equipment. A "labour intensive" task requires more manual effort, whereas a capital intensive task requires a larger investment in equipment.

What are some alternatives to saying "labour intensive"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "manual labor-heavy", "work-intensive", or "requires considerable manpower" instead of "labour intensive".

Why is it important to identify if a process is "labour intensive"?

Identifying a process as "labour intensive" helps in resource allocation, cost analysis, and strategic planning. It highlights the need for managing human resources effectively and exploring potential automation opportunities to reduce reliance on manual labor.