The present invention provides a hot-rolled steel sheet capable of preventing softening of the strength of a sheet-thickness central portion of the steel sheet in thermal treatment, even in the case where an amount of working performed on the steel sheet is small and a work hardening rate is low.A hot-rolled steel sheet of the present invention consists of chemical components of, in mass %, C: 0.040 to 0.150%, Si: 0 to 0.500%, Mn: 0.10 to 1.50%, P: 0 to 0.050%, S: 0 to 0.020%, Al: 0.010 to 0.050%, N: 0.0010 to 0.0060%, Nb: 0.008 to 0.035%, Cu: 0 to 0.10%, Ni: 0 to 0.10%, Cr: 0 to 0.02%, Mo: 0 to 0.020%, V: 0 to 0.020%, Ca: 0 to 0.0100%, B: 0 to 0.0050%, and the balance: Fe and impurities. The hot-rolled steel sheet contains 0.005 to 0.030% dissolved Nb. An area fraction of ferrite structure is 85% or more, the balance is cementite and/or pearlite structure, and an average crystal grain size of ferrite is equal to or more than 5 μm and equal to or less than 20 μm.