Govt has only imported 10,000 skilled foreign workers, aiming for local employment priority: Chris Sun
According to the data from the 2023 Manpower Projection report released by the Labour and Welfare Bureau, Hong Kong faced a manpower shortfall of approximately 50,000 people last year, which is expected to rise to 180,000 by 2028.
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun stated today (Nov. 15) that the city is experiencing a growing manpower gap due to an aging population and a slowdown in the increase of the workforce.
"Over the past two years, various talent import schemes have successfully increased the labor force, but at the same time, some Hong Kong residents have retired or left the city."
Regarding the shortage of skilled workers, which is projected to reach 60,000, Sun mentioned that the median age of workers in this category is 50, with a quarter of them being 60 or older.
He pointed out that young people, with higher educational qualifications, are reluctant to pursue technical jobs.
"The government has only imported 10,000 skilled foreign workers to prioritize local employment, emphasizing the need to seek change while maintaining stability."
As for unskilled workers, there is also a shortage. Sun noted that the existing optimized supplementary labor scheme covers 26 job categories, which can fill some manpower gaps. This scheme will be reviewed two years after its implementation to explore further optimization opportunities.
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