Female Chinese workers sew clothes to be exported to the United States and Europe at a garment factory in Huaibei city, East China's Anhui province, Jan 1, 2014. [Photo / IC]

Labor prices growth to ease

The labor shortage triggered a price surge in the past few years, as the country's demographic dividend dwindles. But that trend is expected to ease this year because companies that are suffering profit losses seek to scale back or close down, which will in turn cut the labor demand.