Worker prospects in Hong Kong hair, beauty sector not cut and dried amid staff shortages
Hongkonger Terrence Wu Chung-ting puts on an apron, picks up a comb and massages hair essence into a client’s scalp during a treatment for hair loss. But eight years ago, Wu’s job could not have been any more different. A finance graduate from one of the city’s top universities, he was then a marketer for beauty products and focused on sales. But when he saw untapped potential in Hong Kong’s…
Hong Kong's hair and beauty sector faces an uncertain future due to a shortage of workers, despite efforts to attract foreign labor. Terrence Wu Chung-ting, a former marketing professional, switched to a career in hair care after recognizing its potential. He trains as a scalp therapist, learning about scalp health and basic treatment techniques.
Industry experts report that salons struggle to fill junior positions due to high turnover rates among young employees who see the work as a stepping stone rather than a viable career path. Scalp treatment is seen as a high-value-added service, attracting more demand and better pay compared to traditional hair salons. However, the industry is facing challenges in recruitment due to physically demanding work and the perception of beauticians as less prestigious than therapists. Salaries for beauticians are also relatively low, making it difficult to attract new talent.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post - Hong Kong's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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