Fourth-term Human Resources Planning Commission assembles seventh conference
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The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (October 5) chaired the seventh conference of the fourth-term Human Resources Planning Commission.
At the conference, the Census and Statistics Department informed members on the most recent scenario and attributes of Hong Kong’s labour force, work and population. Under the impact of aspects such as population aging, Hong Kong’s total labour force involvement rate has actually been on a down pattern, which has actually however been reduced by the numerous skill admission and labour importation steps. Members kept in mind that the seasonally changed joblessness rate increased somewhat from 3.7 percent in May-July 2026 to 3.8 percent in June-August 2026, which the youth joblessness circumstance warrants attention. Members comprehended that the increase in joblessness and the youth work circumstance are structural difficulties dealt with by many innovative economies worldwide, and Hong Kong is no exception. They were likewise pleased to keep in mind that the Government continues to invest greatly in education and abilities training to improve the abilities and competitiveness of the regional labor force, consisting of introducing the two-year 30 000 Youth Employment and Internship Programme revealed in the 2026 Policy Address to help with youth work and advancement. The Labour Department will likewise release the “Youth Employment Link” online service website to assist in youths’s access to work details and assistance services. Looking ahead, the ongoing growth of the regional economy is anticipated to underpin general labour market conditions.
The Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB) likewise informed members at the conference on the outcomes of the report on the Mid-term Update of Manpower Projection. The report shows that the total workforce lack in Hong Kong has actually been minimized, taking advantage of the numerous skill admission and labour importation steps executed by the Government over the previous 3 years. The general workforce scarcity in 2028 is predicted to narrow from the previous forecast of roughly 180 000 to some 130 000. The need for emerging AI specialists continues to grow, especially for “composite talent” who has both AI application abilities and sector-specific understanding. The Government will create matching steps in action to the outcomes of the mid-term upgrade, consisting of reinforcing regional training and boosting the skill admission steps. Members were pleased to keep in mind that the Government will continue to promote “AI for All” and assistance long-lasting knowing, guaranteeing that the abilities of the labour force stay lined up with Hong Kong’s future economy.
The Hong Kong’s First Five-Year strategy promoted in the middle of last month plainly sets out that, on the property of securing regional employees, the Government will carefully keep an eye on modifications in labour supply and need, and dynamically change the types and variety of employees to be imported.
The LWB will quickly start a brand-new round of evaluation of the Talent List. In the course of the evaluation, referral will be made to the current advancements of numerous markets and the workforce need circumstance as set out in the report, with the addition of more skill classifications associating with AI application. Members revealed their views on the evaluation at the conference and supported the Government in continuing to carefully keep track of the labour market and in creating and fine-tuning positive workforce policies on a rolling basis, with a view to keeping workforce supply to support financial advancement while securing the work top priority for regional employees.
Members likewise got a rundown from the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau on the most recent development in promoting brand-new industrialisation in Hong Kong, covering the general method and crucial steps. The rundown set out how Hong Kong will drive commercial change and improve a brand-new industrialisation system with distinct regional benefits through a series of procedures to speed up the translation of mid-stream research study results and assistance downstream commercial advancement, consisting of sustaining conventional markets through technological updating and change; cultivating emerging markets to accelerate their combination into and serve the country’s modern-day commercial system; preparing for future markets to take the first-mover benefit for premium advancement; and enhancing manufacturer services. Members identified the Government’s efforts in promoting brand-new industrialisation, and intended to see Hong Kong’s competitive benefits combined and sustainable financial advancement cultivated.