In downtown Guangzhou, long a bustling hub of Chinese trade, dozens of middle-aged day laborers wait for agents from nearby factories to offer work. Some people are unable to earn a paycheck for months. China’s exports surged in the first two months of 2026, but ordinary workers in Guangdong province have seen a sharp decline in their living standards. Jobs are disappearing and salaries are falling, according to Bloomberg News reporting. The boom in automation and artificial intelligence in China’s manufacturing sector is expected to lead to even tighter household strains, with Citigroup economists forecasting that almost a third of jobs in China could be impacted by AI.

Full report : AI and Robots Are Increasingly Fueling China’s Export Boom.