Policy move lauded for bringing down manpower shortage

Hong Kong's labor shortage is projected to decrease slightly by 2028, according to Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun. The city's manpower shortage, which stood at 180,000 two years ago, is now estimated to be 130,000. This reduction is attributed to shifting economic structures, effective policies to attract talent, and the impact of rapid advancements in artificial intelligence.

Without intervention, the shortage could have reached 300,000 by 2028. Sun also announced that authorities would update Hong Kong's Talent List to include professions related to national development priorities, such as artificial intelligence. The next review will focus on including more AI-related talents in the list. The Labour and Welfare Bureau is coordinating with the trade and interested individuals to make these updates.

Additionally, the government is launching a subsidy program to create 10,000 additional full-time jobs for young people entering the workforce. The positions, which will last at least six months, will be rolled out over two years starting in Q1 2027. The business sector will be brought on board to subsidize part of the monthly pay for six months, covering either HK$6,000 per month or up to one-third of the employee's salary, whichever is lower.