Cross-sector push needed for youth facing ‘paradox of AI fluency’: minister

Hong Kong’s Labour Secretary Chris Sun Yuk-han has called for a collaborative approach across various sectors to assist young individuals in gaining practical experience amidst the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), while Singapore’s Trade Minister Tan See Leng has advocated for a mindset of continuous learning. At the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s PBC Forum 2026 on Monday, Sun highlighted that higher education alone is no longer sufficient for career success in the AI era.

He emphasized the importance of AI fluency, trade-specific skills, and soft skills like communication, stating that these are crucial for success today. However, Sun noted that while young people are typically highly proficient in AI fluency, they struggle to secure opportunities to apply these skills in real-world work environments, creating a paradox.

To address this, he proposed a concerted effort among the government, employers, and philanthropy to provide young people with more opportunities to demonstrate their abilities in actual job settings. Sun also discussed government initiatives aimed at improving social mobility and retraining, including plans to enhance the Employees Retraining Board and launch a social welfare project-matching platform.

The government’s upcoming manpower forecast will identify jobs more susceptible to AI disruption, enabling residents to make informed career choices. Meanwhile, Tan See Leng from Singapore emphasized the nation’s proactive stance on AI, comparing its approach to "taking a bull by the horns." He stated that Singapore is actively promoting AI fluency and literacy among its population through heavily subsidized AI courses, with the goal of making AI literacy widespread.

Tan also highlighted the country’s upskilling programs, such as the SkillsFuture Credit, which offers subsidies for approved training courses and recently includes a mid-career "top-up" for individuals aged 40 and over. He further explained that Singapore’s Skills and Workforce Development Agency collaborates with universities to connect undergraduate students with internships and traineeships, underscoring the need for continuous learning in the rapidly evolving technological landscape.