Spring Festival's labor exodus begins

With the early tide of migrant workers streaming out of Beijing and coastal cities for Spring Festival, some industries are already facing a labor shortage.

The bad news for some migrant workers is that weaker economic growth in the past year and industrial restructuring may leave them in dire straits when they return after the holiday, especially in the coastal regions.

Guangdong province, for example, has plenty of laborers to fill Spring Festival vacancies, according to Feng Xiliang, a labor rights expert at Capital University of Economics and Business. "Slower economic growth and the restructuring in some industries are major reasons for weaker labor demand after the holiday," Feng said.