The labor shortage will peak in late February, especially in the service industry, which is likely to face difficulties recruiting after the Spring Festival, Metro Express reported.

The report said that the service industry, such as hotels and restaurants, is now having difficulties to attract laborers because many workers, most from rural areas, are reluctant to return to big cities to resume previous jobs after the Chinese Lunar New Year.

According to a national survey that interviewed more than 13,500 workers, about 51.7 percent of migrant workers being polled said they are unlikely to return to their prior jobs when the Spring Festival holiday ends.

Among the enterprises being interviewed, about 84.4 percent of them said they are concerned with the high mobility of employees and most have seen employees quitting after the holiday.

The survey suggested that low wages, bleak career prospects and conflicts with colleagues are the major reasons for job resignations.