This undated photo shows Lancy Chui Yuk-shan, senior vice-president at ManpowerGroup Greater China. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Around 45 percent of employers in Hong Kong plan to ramp up hiring in the next three months, according to a survey conducted by recruitment firm ManpowerGroup.
The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey released on Wednesday said an upbeat hiring pace is expected in the communication services and information technology sectors, with a net employment outlook of 81 percent and 50 percent, respectively.
The outlook is a gauge calculated by subtracting the percentage of employers who anticipate a decline in hiring activity from the percentage of those who expect an increase.
Of the 510 employers surveyed, 15 percent anticipate a decrease in hiring, and 38 percent forecast no change. After being adjusted for seasonal variations, the overall employment outlook stands at 30 percent.
However, Hong Kong employers are grappling with a staggering talent crunch and hiring hurdles.
Lancy Chui Yuk-shan, senior vice-president at ManpowerGroup Greater China, said the sharp decline in Hong Kong's labor force is attributed to structural factors related to talent, and the loss of 190,000 workers cannot be easily compensated for in the short term
The survey showed around 85 percent of employers face labor shortages and recruitment difficulties — a new 17-year high. This represents a 2-percentage point uptick from last year and outpaces the global average of 77 percent.
The survey conducted in February in Hong Kong revealed that the top five in-demand skills are in information technology and data, followed by engineering and technical skills, sales and marketing, risk management and information related to environment, social and governance, as well as sustainable development.
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Lancy Chui Yuk-shan, senior vice-president at ManpowerGroup Greater China, said the sharp decline in Hong Kong's labor force is attributed to structural factors related to talent, and the loss of 190,000 workers cannot be easily compensated for in the short term.
“With the current economic recovery, various sectors struggle to recruit workers. This is expected to exacerbate the talent shortage issue in the city in the following one to two years,” she added.
To address the human resources shortage problem in Hong Kong, Chui suggested the city evaluate whether it needs to import foreign labor to fill certain positions.
“Enterprises cannot depend solely on the government, and must take multiple measures to enhance their efforts to retain talent, including increasing internal training, providing opportunities for career advancement, as well as improving compensation and benefits,” she said.
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Chui noted enterprises should also consider how to transform themselves by utilizing artificial intelligence and automation technology to increase efficiency and reduce the need for manual labor.
Contact the writer at tianyuanzhang@chinadailyhk.com