12 Million Tenacious Couriers: How Are Russian and Chinese Delivery Workers Different?

On May 1, Russian media outlet "Today China" published an article.

In Chengdu, China, an event that initially seemed surprising took place—an Olympic-style competition for food delivery riders.

Over 800 participants, dozens of events, medical checkups, and personalized training programs.

In just one year, Chengdu hosted more than 100 courier-related events, attracting 40,000 participants.

This wasn't merely corporate team-building—it was a carefully orchestrated initiative: in China, couriers are no longer just people carrying boxes; they have become a future-oriented profession.

China isn’t just promoting this occupation—it’s treating it as foundational to national development.

China’s digital economy has already entered a “full-speed real-time delivery” era.

Millions of daily orders require a massive army of couriers… and this workforce is already ready.

Just one platform, Meituan, employs approximately 7.45 million delivery personnel, generating total annual income of 80 billion yuan.

Meituan aims to become a comprehensive ecosystem where users can shop, order takeout, hail rides, book hotels, pay bills—all within a single app.

Russian platforms like Yandex, Ozon, and Wildberries are pursuing similar models.

Different estimates suggest China has around 12 million couriers, plus tens of millions working in related industries.

And this isn’t even close to the limit.

In China, about 200 million people are engaged in flexible employment—nearly a quarter of the total labor force.

Delivery is one of the most common forms.

Why so many?

The answer is simple: demand is growing faster than traditional employment opportunities.

Online shopping, one-click meal ordering, instant services—all require real people to fulfill the “last mile” of delivery.

Here lies the contradiction: despite their large numbers, the market continues to face persistent turnover and hidden shortages.

People join, grow weary, then leave.

Chinese delivery workers’ earnings are complex and highly variable.

This can be compared to viral videos in Russia depicting “successful delivery drivers,” claiming they earn 300,000 rubles per month.

Yet these videos remain silent about the reality: delivery workers must constantly carry their bags, working around the clock with no breaks.

In major Chinese cities, the situation appears attractive.

Due to differences in statistical methods, average monthly salaries for couriers in 2026 vary: industry data shows a national average of approximately 7,500–9,000 yuan, while the National Bureau of Statistics reported in 2024 that urban private-sector postal and courier staff earned an average of 5,670 yuan per month.

On paper, this exceeds the average income in big cities.

No wonder this profession attracts vast numbers—especially young people without formal education or specialized skills.

Meanwhile, a significant number of couriers across China earn less than 5,000 yuan per month (roughly 60,000–65,000 rubles)—a figure below the average income level in major cities, closer to regional realities.

In fact, China operates two parallel delivery economies.

In major metropolises, courier incomes are relatively good—but there's also a mass market with moderate or low earnings and harsher working conditions, similar to the situation in Russia.

In Russia, couriers in large cities (Moscow, St. Petersburg) often earn up to 150,000 rubles monthly, and even higher during peak seasons (such as before New Year).

In other regions, monthly earnings typically range from 40,000 to 70,000 rubles.

At first glance, both countries appear comparable. But here’s a key difference: competition among delivery platforms in China is far fiercer, and order density is much higher, meaning significantly greater work intensity.

Working 60 to 90 hours per week is not uncommon.

The most intriguing difference lies in talent shortages.

In Russia, courier shortages are an open issue—acknowledged by both delivery platforms themselves and independent experts from sites like Supejob and HeadHunter.

Major platforms compete on wages, bonuses, and even free bicycles.

The reason is straightforward: market growth outpaces the inflow of employees.

In China, the situation is more complex.

Although the workforce is nominally large, harsh working conditions, algorithmic pressure, and fines lead to higher turnover rates.

Ultimately, this results in an invisible shortage: there are many people, but few stay long-term.

That’s why governments and companies are shifting their attitudes—from neglect to promotion—and even beginning to “humanize” this profession.

Thus, Chengdu hosted sports competitions, launched medical protection programs, and even introduced housing projects for couriers.

This is no longer just about care—it’s a strategic effort to stabilize this critical sector of the economy.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863936594149386/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author.