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Ng Kang-chung

Hong Kong will be short of more than a quarter of a million workers by 2027, mainly because of an ageing population and low birth rate, according to worst-case projections in a government workforce report.
Although the report anticipates the steady growth of such sectors as information and communications, professional and business services – which generally require skilled or educated employees – it also projects there will be 16,300 more postgraduate-level workers than needed by 2027.
That is despite a general shortfall of workers across education levels from junior secondary to below first degree, according to the report, which covered the 10 years from 2017 and was prepared by the Labour and Welfare Bureau.
Findings are to be discussed at a meeting of the Legislative Council’s workforce panel next Tuesday.

Some pro-business lawmakers said the report made a strong case for importing workers.
According to the projections, Hong Kong’s workforce will rise from 3.64 million in 2017 to reach a plateau at 3.67 million to 3.68 million in 2019 to 2022, before falling to 3.57 million by 2027.
The workforce would grow at an average annual rate of 0.2 per cent for 2017 to 2022 and then shrink 0.6 per cent per year to 2027. Over the 10 years to 2027, that works out as a 2 per cent decrease.
With a greying population, some 24.4 per cent of the overall workforce will be aged 55 or above in 2027, against 21.3 per cent in 2017.
What is making young Hongkongers choose all work and no play?
But staffing requirements are projected to increase from 3.61 million in 2017 to 3.74 million in 2027, a growth rate of 0.3 per cent for the overall economy in the 10 years.
The report said that “to take into account the impact of economic conditions on the overall manpower situation by 2027”, the projection was that there would be a shortage of 169,700 workers under the “base-case scenario”, but could top 254,200 in the worst case. Under a so-called low-case scenario, there would be a shortfall of 86,800.

A similar workforce projection report in 2015 anticipated a shortage of 117,900 workers in 2022.
The pro-business Liberal Party’s Peter Shiu Ka-fai, a panel member who represents the wholesale and retail sectors in the legislature, said: “The answer to the question is to import workers. Actually, Hong Kong is now short of people. Employers have always complained they have difficulty in finding workers.”
Shiu criticised the government for being too afraid of offending labour unions to import workers.
Hong Kong’s ageing time bomb a cause for concern
But Steven Chu Hon-chung, vice-chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions, argued against importing workers. He said the government should offer more retraining and formulate policies to encourage housewives to join the workforce.
Hong Kong’s latest jobless rate stood at 2.8 per cent.


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News

Hong Kong

Staffing requirements are projected to increase from 3.61 million in 2017 to 3.74 million in 2027
Pro-business lawmaker says report makes a strong case for importing workers


Staffing requirements are projected to increase from 3.61 million in 2017 to 3.74 million in 2027, according to a government report.


Ageing society

Hong Kong may need an extra 250,000 workers within 8 years – but where will they come from?

Staffing requirements are projected to increase from 3.61 million in 2017 to 3.74 million in 2027 Pro-business lawmaker says report makes a strong case for importing workers

Staffing requirements are projected to increase from 3.61 million in 2017 to 3.74 million in 2027

Pro-business lawmaker says report makes a strong case for importing workers