Final answer:
Shifts in the demand curve for labor due to increased competition from Chinese imports can be likened to shifts caused by changes in technology, consumer preferences, or government regulations, all of which can alter the quantity of labor demanded.
Step-by-step explanation:
Shifts in the demand curve for labor due to increased competition from Chinese imports are comparable to shifts in the demand curve due to other factors like changes in technology, changes in consumer preferences, changes in government regulations, or changes in population. When focusing on factors other than the wage rate, which causes movement along the demand curve, these elements can all lead to either an increase or a decrease in the demand for labor, effectively shifting the curve to the right or left.
For instance, advancements in technology may make certain labor skills more or less in demand. Similarly, changes in consumer preferences can increase the demand for a product and subsequently for the labor producing it. When regulations change, such as the introduction of a labor-intensive safety standard, the demand for labor might increase. Each of these scenarios details how factors external to the wage rate can shift the demand curve for labor, just as external competition does.