Advertisement
Advertisement
-
TOPIC

Jobs

Jobs
News about job creation, job losses, labour disputes, wage trends and other developments from around the world with a focus on Hong Kong and China.
More than 2.6 million employees are registered under MPF schemes. Photo: Dickson Lee
Hong Kong economy

Proposed 33% rise in MPF payments ‘may pile on business pressure, hit jobs’

But labour sector lawmaker calls for bolder increases in maximum income level threshold to meet statutory requirements and reflect rising salaries.

India

Boom times for India’s economy but opportunities remain uneven

United States

US sheds 92,000 jobs in warning sign for Trump’s economy

videocam
China jobs

China should up education spending to help population adapt to AI era: economist

Prominent Chinese economist says it is imperative to ensure the next generation can withstand the changes being driven by AI.

videocam
A humanoid robot waves to children at a kindergarten in China’s eastern Shandong province. Photo: Getty Images
Nepal

‘This is our moment’: Nepal’s Gen Z voters hope for ‘turning point’ in election

While all the parties have pledged economic growth and job creation, thousands are leaving Nepal each day in search of a better life.

videocam
Thailand

‘Not going anywhere’: Thai workers in Israel refuse to flee despite Iran threat

Bangkok has been here before: 46 Thais died in the Hamas assault that started the Gaza war. Now it fears history may be repeating.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Artificial intelligence

Outside In | Everyone agrees that AI is big. No one agrees on what comes next

Job fears, environmental strain and security threats are fuelling the botlash, yet experts remain divided over its net impact – and our ability to contain the risks.

videocam
A protest against Elon Musk’s xAI, federal law enforcement agents, the deployment of the National Guard during the “Get Out of Memphis” protest in Tennessee, US, on October 4, 2025. Photo: AFP
Japan

Cash-for-tips scheme in Japan sparks debate over migrant rights

Backers argue tougher measures are needed to curb unauthorised employment, but migrant advocates fear unintended social consequences.

China-EU relations

Opinion | Germany’s outreach to China signals a reckoning, rather than a shift

The German chancellor realises that while China poses a long-term economic challenge, the United States is currently the more disruptive partner.

videocam
6
Japan

Clocking off: is Japan’s culture of overwork finally dying?

The average hours put in by Japanese workers are lower than those of their American and Italian counterparts.

videocam
People cross a road in Tokyo, Japan. Government reforms over the past two decades had helped reduce average working hours. Photo: AFP
China education

China’s vocational degrees rising as students seek skills over prestige

Job-placement rates for vocational undergraduate colleges now outpace traditional universities, as youth unemployment drives pivot to more reliable employment path.

videocam
Vocational undergraduate colleges in China have expanded rapidly, growing from just 15 during a pilot phase in 2019 to more than 100. Photo: Getty Images
Artificial intelligence

China’s tech giants pursue AI, semiconductor talent in US amid fierce rivalry

ByteDance, Baidu, Alibaba Cloud and MiniMax are among the firms now actively recruiting fresh talent in the US.

6
Trade

Outside In | Try as it might, the US alone can’t reverse the tide of globalisation

Accounting for a significant share of world trade, Europe and Asia are far more decisive players in the fast-changing globalised economy.

videocam
Hong Kong society

Editorial | Minimum wage rises must not leave behind city’s most vulnerable

As the economic pie grows, money-making companies can afford to do more so employees who are struggling get their fair share of return.

Cleaning workers on the job in Mong Kok on May 1, 2025. Photo: Jelly Tse
US-China relations

Opinion | US and China can again find common ground – in AI’s risks

If Beijing and Washington could meet in 1972 to manage a shared threat, today’s leaders can cooperate to shape the rules of AI.

videocam
People use augmented reality headsets during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference at the Shanghai World Expo and Convention Center in Shanghai on July 28, 2025. Photo: AFP / Getty Images / TNS
Artificial intelligence

Opinion | How recent graduates entering the job market can outperform AI

As automation erodes cognitive and interpersonal skills, those who embrace the struggle of enhancing offline reasoning will thrive.

videocam
Artificial intelligence

Letters | AI is taking an invisible toll on humans working alongside it

Readers discuss the mental health toll of AI adoption, early intervention in youth mental health, and ‘love intelligence’.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Ageing society

Opinion | Hong Kong should see the ‘silver economy’ as a golden opportunity

The city could reframe its ageing trend by working to become a global capital for ‘longevity finance’ and supporting East-West healthcare innovations.

An elderly woman sits on a chair on the road in front of a fruit and vegetable seller in a market in Causeway Bay in December 2024. Photo: Antony Dickson
Singapore

Singapore set for US$12 billion surplus as Wong unveils AI ambitions in budget

PM Lawrence Wong says while defence spending will be kept at about 3 per cent of GDP, Singapore is prepared to spend more if the need arises.

Hong Kong politics

Opinion | Hong Kong’s civil service won’t benefit from a universal retirement age hike

The civil service needs nuanced refinements that prioritise quality over quantity, not mandates that threaten talent inflow and retention.

Artificial intelligence

Hong Kong executives trail employees in AI adoption: McKinsey

Just 14 per cent of Hong Kong executives use AI frequently, as companies face strategy, data and training barriers to wider adoption.

Executives in Hong Kong are lagging their workforce when it comes to AI use. Photo: Karma Lo
Artificial intelligence

Dopamine over babies: Asia’s births crisis worsens in the age of AI

AI is putting pressure on Asian workers to upgrade their skills, while the technology also provides ‘cheap fun’ diversions.

A health worker checks on newborn babies at a hospital in Chennai, India. Photo: EPA-EFE
Hong Kong society

Hong Kong enterprise for needy unable to set up new shop after government error

Tender exercise cancelled after erroneous power supply details sent to bidders by Housing Authority, leaving Agape Garden in limbo.

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong’s minimum wage set to rise by HK$1 per hour to HK$43.10

Exco backs Minimum Wage Commission’s suggested 2.38 per cent increase.

10
South Korea

Seoul tightens migrant language screening over safety concerns

A rise in worksite accidents involving poor comprehension of safety instructions is driving the shift as South Korea increasingly relies on foreign labour.

Foreign workers plant potatoes at a farm in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, in March 2024. Photo: Korea Times
Hong Kong economy

Letters | Tax companies that deploy AI, save Hong Kong graduates

Readers discuss the urgency of maintaining entry-level jobs, treating agentic AI like it is the Monkey King, and public transport safety.

People go to work in Central district during the morning rush hour on July 17. University graduates in Hong Kong are facing the gloomiest employment market since 2021. Photo: Nora Tam
Hong Kong economy

Exclusive | 55% plunge in new hires as Hong Kong graduates face gloomiest outlook in 5 years

Average monthly salary of new hires has risen only marginally by 0.5 per cent year on year to HK$20,961 in 2025, according to online job portal.

37
China jobs

With AI in the driving seat, China moves to rein in job displacement risks

China’s central government unveils plans for policy to reduce industrial labour pains caused by widespread use of artificial intelligence.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement