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The Global Insight

What does the labor supply curve show?

Author

Robert Miller

Updated on February 23, 2026

A labor supply curve shows the number of workers who are willing and able to work in an occupation at different wages. A labor demand curve shows the number of workers firms are willing and able to hire at different wages.

What is the individual labor supply curve?

An individual’s labor supply curve marks out the number of hours they are willing to work at different wages, the same way that a seller’s supply curve marks out how much they are willing to sell at different prices.

What is individual labor supply?

2-6 Indifference Curve Properties • With high hours of leisure, individuals are willing to give up a small amount of income to get 1 more leisure hour. …

How does labor affect the supply curve?

Shifts in Labor Supply. The supply of labor is upward-sloping and adheres to the law of supply: The higher the price, the greater the quantity supplied and the lower the price, the less quantity supplied. An increased number of workers will cause the supply curve to shift to the right.

What is the difference between labor demand and labor supply?

The demand for labor in a particular market—called the market demand for labor—is the amount of labor that all the firms participating in that market will demand at different market wage levels. The market supply curve for a particular type of labor is the horizontal summation of the individuals’ labor supply curves.

What happens when Labour supply increases?

Effect of increase in supply and demand for labour If immigration led to an increase in the supply of labour (more workers) then wages would initially fall. However, net migration would also lead to increase in demand for labour because the new workers create additional demand in the economy.

What is the law of supply for labor?

The supply of labor is upward-sloping and adheres to the law of supply: The higher the price, the greater the quantity supplied and the lower the price, the less quantity supplied. The higher the wage, the more labor is willing to work and forego leisure activities.

How is the supply curve of Labour illustrated?

The changes in the work-effort or labour supplied by an individual worker due to the changes in the wage rate is illustrated in Fig. 33.1 (a) To begin with, the wage line is AW 1 the slope of the wage line indicates the wage rate per hour.

What is the backward bending supply curve for labor?

Figure 12.8 “A Backward-Bending Supply Curve for Labor” shows Meredith Wilson’s supply curve for labor. At a wage of $10 per hour, she supplies 42 hours of work per week (point A). An increase in her wage to $15 per hour boosts her quantity supplied to 48 hours per week (point B).

How does the increase in real wage affect the supply curve?

This is called substitution effect of the rise in real wage and induces the individual to work more hours (i.e. supply more labour) to earn more income. But the increase in the real wage rate also makes the individual richer, that is, his income increases.

What is the relationship between wages and quantity of Labor?

The relationship between wages and the quantity of labor that a firm is willing to employ. The relationship between wages and the quantity of labor that she is willing to supply. Molly is spending beyond her means.