In recent years, the notion that ‘China’s northeastern provinces are no longer home to the nation’s oldest labor force’ has drawn increasing attention. Historically, Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang—collectively known as China’s Northeast or ‘Dongbei’—were seen as having the most aged workforce due to population outflow, declining birth rates, and accelerating aging. However, the latest demographic and employment data reveal that some central and western provinces, such as Sichuan, Henan, and Anhui, now exhibit comparable or even higher levels of workforce aging.Several factors explain this shift. On one hand, the northeastern provinces have implemented policies to upgrade industries and attract talent back, encouraging some young and middle-aged workers to return. On the other hand, in traditional labor-exporting provinces in central and western China, improved local economies and urbanization have led many middle-aged and older migrant workers to stay closer to home, aging the local labor pool.Moreover, nationwide demographic trends play a role. According to China’s Seventh National Population Census, people aged 60 and above now account for 18.7% of the total population, indicating an overall aging workforce. Thus, labeling any single region as having the ‘oldest labor force’ oversimplifies a complex reality that must consider industrial structure, migration patterns, and regional policies.While aging remains a challenge in the Northeast, it is no longer the most severe in the country—a shift reflecting evolving regional development dynamics and offering new insights for targeted labor and demographic policymaking.
近年来，‘东三省不再是全国劳动力最老省份’这一说法逐渐引发关注。过去，由于人口外流、出生率下降和老龄化加剧，辽宁、吉林、黑龙江三省常被视为全国劳动力年龄结构最老化的地区。然而，最新的人口与就业数据显示，部分中西部省份如四川、河南、安徽等地的老龄化程度和劳动力平均年龄已接近甚至超过东北地区。这一变化背后有多重原因：一方面，东三省近年来积极推动产业升级和人才回流政策，吸引部分青壮年劳动力返乡就业；另一方面，中西部一些传统劳务输出大省，随着本地经济发展和城镇化推进，大量原本外出务工的中老年群体选择留在本地，导致当地劳动力年龄结构趋于老化。此外，国家整体人口结构的变化也影响了区域对比。第七次全国人口普查显示，全国60岁以上人口占比已达18.7%，劳动力整体呈老龄化趋势。因此，单纯以地域划分‘最老劳动力’已不够准确，需结合具体产业结构、流动人口数据及地方政策综合判断。总体来看，东三省劳动力老龄化问题依然存在，但已不再是全国最突出的地区。这一转变既反映了区域发展格局的变化，也为各地制定更精准的人口与就业政策提供了新依据。
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