Li Boyong was born in 1932, a native of City Tianjin. He is Han Nationality.
He served as vice-minister of the Ministry of Labor from 1988-1990. He then served as minister of the Ministry of Labor from 1993-1998. From 1990-1993 he was vice-governor of Sichuan Province.
He was a member of the 9th Standing Committee of the NPC and a member of the 14th CPC Central Committee.