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Hong Kong’s banks desperate for AI, green finance talent to avert 2030 shortage: HKMA poll

HKMA wants banks to train their staff to plug the talent gap instead of poaching them from their rivals

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HKMA deputy chief executive Arthur Yuen said bankers who upskill and enhance their productivity would be in demand. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Hong Kong lenders were expected to face a talent shortage in artificial intelligence (AI), green finance and expertise related to the Middle East and Asean markets over the next five years, according to a study led by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA).

“We want to see local banks provide more training for their staff to upgrade their knowledge and skills to plug the talent shortage gap, instead of using higher pay to fight for talent from other banks,” Arthur Yuen Kwok-hang, deputy chief executive of the HKMA, said on Friday ahead of a banking survey’s release on Monday.

“A robust business environment supported by a sufficiently large and skilled talent pool is essential for maintaining Hong Kong’s status as a leading international financial centre,” he said.

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The study, titled Capacity Building for Future Banking 2026-2030, was based on a survey of 147 banks conducted in the first quarter by the HKMA, the Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB) and the Hong Kong Institute of Bankers (HKIB).

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The study found that 57 per cent of banks were optimistic about the outlook from 2026 to 2030, amid ample business opportunities backed by increasing technological capacity, while 11 per cent believed the outlook would be challenging because of geopolitical tensions.

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