BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH SDG 8

As one of the largest economies in the world, contributing to more than 30% of the global economic growth between 2016 and 2019, China is a key player in the implementation of SDG 8’s goals, which cannot be ignored if economic growth and decent work for all are to be achieved from a global perspective. Over the last decade, China has presented itself as a country that is strongly committed to implementing Economic Growth and Decent Work for All, as it skillfully managed to maintain relatively stable economic growth amidst an uncertain geopolitical environment and in spite of the major supply chain disruptions of the last few years, while actively working to improve workplace safety and promote inclusive access to financial resources for medium- and small-sized enterprises, both domestically and internationally (Center for International Knowledge on Development [CIKD], 2023, pp. 67-73). Moreover, Chinese scholars are currently producing the largest volume of SDG-related research, generating an important body of academic work that shapes sustainability policy worldwide (He, 2026). However, significant challenges in the implementation of SDG 8 remain, particularly in the area of fundamental labour rights and safe working conditions, as well as from a wider economic perspective (Sachs et al., 2025, p. 135).

CURRENT CHALLENGES AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

China is currently facing major challenges both in the area of economic growth and in the area of decent work for all. Insufficient domestic demand and weak market confidence are slowing Chinese economic growth, with growth rates of real GDP per capita in the post-COVID-19 years remaining consistently lower than pre-pandemic levels (CIKD, 2023, p. 74; International Monetary Fund, n.d.). 

Furthermore, China has experienced a profound structural transformation of its economy over the last decade, with its traditional manufacturing and agricultural sectors increasingly giving way to a rapidly expanding tertiary sector, which came to employ more than 47% of the total Chinese workforce in 2022, while Chinese Industry has gradually moved away from the production of low-value commodities towards the development and production of technology-intensive goods (CIKD, 2023, pp. 69-70). Although desirable from a developmental perspective, these structural changes are occurring at too rapid a pace for the Chinese labour market to keep up with, fuelling an increasing mismatch between the skills required by new growing industries and those supplied by the Chinese labour market, risking leaving a significant part of the Chinese workforce behind (International Labour Organization [ILO], 2023, pp. 27-28).

Moreover, legislative gaps and insufficient enforcement of labour protection laws have resulted in many Chinese workers still working under unsafe conditions or in precarious work arrangements that prevent men and (in particular) women from attaining decent working standards and financial stability (ILO, 2023, pp. 16-20). Although Chinese authorities have focused heavily on prioritising employment policies in the last few years, as declared by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China (2021), no significant progress has been made in the area of labour rights. According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (n.d.), levels of national compliance with labour rights in China have stagnated since 2020, with persistent challenges still hindering the achievement of decent work for all. Furthermore, persistent discrimination against vulnerable groups in the labour market and widespread informal employment, particularly in rural areas, are also pressing challenges to the achievement of SDG 8 (ILO, 2023, pp. 23-24).

LIST OF REFERENCES AND USEFUL LINKS

Center for International Knowledge on Development. (2023). China’s Progress Report on Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China. https://www.mfa.gov.cn/eng/zy/jj/2030kcxfzyc/202310/P020231018367257234614.pdf

He, S. (2026, March 24). How Chinese research is shaping global SDG policy. Springer Nature. Retrieved September 7, 2026, from https://www.springernature.com/gp/researchers/the-researchers-source/publish-with-impact-blogpost/sdg-impact-policy-report-china/52203148

International Labour Organization. (2023). Decent Work Country Programme for China 2023-2025 (Extended to December 2027). https://www.ilo.org/publications/decent-work-country-programme-china-2023-2025-extended-december-2027

International Monetary Fund. (n.d.). Real GDP growth. Retrieved September 7, 2026, from https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/NGDP_RPCH@WEO/CHN?zoom=CHN&highlight=CHN

Sachs, J. D., Lafortune, G., Fuller, G., & Iablonovski, G. (2025). Sustainable Development Report 2025: Financing Sustainable Development to 2030 and Mid-Century. Dublin University Press. https://doi.org/10.25546/111909

State Council of the People’s Republic of China. (2021). Outline of the People’s Republic of China 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and Long-Range Objectives for 2035 (B. Murphy, Trans.). Center for Security and Emerging Technology. https://cset.georgetown.edu/publication/china-14th-five-year-plan/

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (n.d). SDG Country Profile: China. Retrieved September 7, 2026, from https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/dataportal/countryprofiles/chn#goal-8