Hong Kong consumer services feel pressure as young graduates cool to industry, survey finds
Long and unstable working hours as well as limited career paths are cited
Hong Kong’s consumer service sector is facing mounting pressure in recruiting young talent as a survey shows only 31 per cent of young graduates are considering working full-time in the industry.
The top three prevailing concerns identified by respondents were long working hours, limited career paths and unstable working hours that could affect their social life.
READ MORE: Why so glum? Hong Kong shop workers ranked third last in ‘service with a smile’ survey
Association vice chairman Cally Chan said: “Young people’s understanding towards the consumer service sector is very limited.”
She said the sector offered numerous occupations other than waiters, dishwashers and salespersons, such as shop mangers and administrators, that the city’s youngsters had failed to acknowledge.
“Ninety per cent of jobs in the food industry are frontline positions, but young people are more interested in logistics offers,” Wong said. He added that it was not easy for a fresh graduate to secure such offers when competing with more experienced applicants, especially in the economic downturn.