They come out of university with debts that have to be repaid and this makes it more difficult for them to secure a mortgage.

Their dream of a bright future turns sour. It may be that all they can afford is a cubicle apartment or a similar kind of unit that guarantees they will have to endure a poor living environment. Some will join the long queue for a public housing flat.

In their efforts to join the workforce they face a lot of obstacles.

There is intense competition as when they apply for jobs they are up against workers from Hong Kong with more experience and talented and well-qualified people from the mainland.

Some employers will see work experience as a priority, making it difficult for a young person to get on the career ladder even if they have good academic qualifications.

If they are lucky enough to get that first job they will often find that they have to start on a low salary. Some may even wait a while before hunting for a job which leads to a higher rate of unemployment among young graduates.

You often see a trend where young Hongkongers switch jobs frequently. This leads to them being criticised for being self-centred, irresponsible, disloyal and lacking a commitment to the company they leave.

Young people who do keep moving jobs may find that eventually it is difficult for them to find work.

I appreciate that generally their employment prospects may appear to be quite bleak.

However, adolescents can prepare for the challenges they face, even in secondary school. They can try to obtain internships and temporary work opportunities so that they can accumulate work experience.

This will make them more competitive and improve their chances of getting a job.

Young people facing obstacles in the workplace should try to identify their weaknesses and strive for self-improvement.

Ella Cheung, Sheung Shui