Gen Z is turning filial piety into a career path

Hong Kong's young adults are redefining filial piety, turning it into a career choice. This shift reflects a growing difficulty in transitioning from dependence to independence. Young professionals with degrees but little work experience struggle to break into the job market, as "entry-level" positions often demand extensive prior experience.

Hong Kong's high housing costs exacerbate this issue, making it financially impractical for fresh graduates to move out and start careers. Instead, some choose to live with their parents, receiving allowances and helping around the house, in exchange for avoiding the financial burden of renting or buying a flat. While this arrangement may seem absurd, it is a pragmatic response to Hong Kong's housing market and the weakening incentives to advance in one's career.

The traditional career path is being challenged by artificial intelligence, which can perform basic tasks previously done by humans, such as research, analysis, coding, and writing. This raises concerns about job displacement and the loss of learning opportunities that come with junior roles. Universities are grappling with this shift, as tech executives who once represented the future have been met with skepticism.

Young people are questioning the bargain that corporate productivity gains will be achieved through fewer junior employees, leaving them uncertain about where to begin their careers. This skepticism towards corporate careers may be contributing to Gen Z's reluctance to pursue traditional career paths. The old career bargain was clear: effort leads to progress.

However, with the disappearance of entry-level positions and the rise of AI, young people are questioning the value of such a path. Companies must adapt their strategies to cultivate talent in new ways, focusing on judgment, creativity, and professional instincts. Otherwise, the full-time child and the Neet may become permanent features in the labor market, rather than temporary social concerns.

Gen Z is not rejecting work entirely; rather, they are rejecting the notion that any work is automatically worthwhile. Hong Kong has long taught its youth to compete, but the pressing question now is whether the economy offers anything truly valuable for young people to compete for.