Hong Kong physiotherapists face job crunch amid oversupply and budget cuts

Hong Kong's physiotherapy graduates are grappling with a job shortage due to budget cuts and an influx of new practitioners. One physiotherapy representative reported that 60 applicants competed for a single position in a remote care facility for elderly residents. Polytechnic University's prestigious physiotherapy programme, known for its rigorous admission standards, saw a 9-percentage-point drop in applicants ranking it among their top three choices.

Alexander Woo, president of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association, attributed the intensifying job competition to government budget cuts and an increase in new practitioners entering the market. The number of physiotherapy programmes has expanded from just one institution to four in recent years, producing a significant number of graduates annually.

Additionally, the return of 200 to 300 foreign-trained physiotherapists annually has further contributed to the oversupply. Concerns about industry standards led to calls for a standardized licensing examination for overseas-trained candidates. While PolyU maintains strong admission standards, recent data showed that about 90% of students were admitted from the top tier, with average DSE scores remaining above 30 points.

However, only 0.8% of candidates were admitted as non-Band A admissions in the previous year, indicating a substantial drop in Band A admissions. Despite this, PolyU's graduates have a high employment rate in various sectors, and Hong Kong's demand for rehabilitative services remains strong, offering sustainable career prospects for well-trained professionals.