{
  "id": 9122248,
  "title": "Labour shortage eases, but entry-level jobs hit by AI",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/labour-shortage-eases-but-entry-level-jobs-hit-by-ai",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-22T09:49:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RTHK English",
    "slug": "rthk-english",
    "url": "https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1871105-20260922.htm"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Labour shortages in Hong Kong are easing, but entry-level jobs are struggling due to the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), according to Acting Secretary for Labour and Welfare Ho Kai-ming. The government aims to assist workers of all levels in adapting to the AI era, as the technology has coincided with a decline in clerical and entry-level positions for recent university graduates. Despite a reduction in the overall shortfall from 180,000 to 130,000 workers by 2028, Ho notes that certain industries, such as innovation and technology, aviation, construction, city operations, and healthcare, still face significant labor shortages. Without labour importation measures, the shortfall would have widened to 300,000 due to an aging population. By occupation, skilled technical workers and service/sales workers make up 60% of the shortfall, as these roles are harder for AI to replace due to their reliance on interpersonal interactions and complex craftsmanship. In contrast, clerical support workers are expected to have a surplus of about 25,000 to 30,000 by 2028, as companies expand AI use for routine administrative tasks. However, AI experts, particularly those with composite talent (AI skills and sector-specific knowledge), are in high demand. Ho emphasized that the government will support workers in adapting to the new AI era and aligning their skills with Hong Kong's future economy. More than 70% of workers have already used AI on the job, and the Labour and Welfare Bureau projects that the technology could boost productivity by 20 to 30%. However, AI adoption could easily replace jobs in import/export and finance trades by the same percentage. Nonetheless, the prevalence of post-secondary education among jobseekers between 2005 and 2025 means that services and sales staff, as well as skilled technical workers, will struggle to fill positions due to the high competition. The SAR currently has only about 4,000 composite talents, according to research unit head Roy Chan.",
  "summary": "The government will help workers at all levels equip themselves for the new AI era as the emergence of frontier technology coincided with a plunge in clerical and entry-level positions for fresh university graduates, said Acting Secretary for Labour and Welfare Ho Kai-ming. He spoke as Hong Kong's manpower situation remained tight across most key industries, with the government saying shortages…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "RTHK News",
        "title": "Labour shortage eases, but entry-level jobs hit by AI",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/labour-shortage-eases-but-entry-level-jobs-hit-by-ai-9123420",
        "published": "2026-09-22T09:49:22.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}