LettersHong Kong excels at educating its youth. Now it must create the jobs to match
Readers discuss tapping the city’s competitive edge to expand opportunities abroad, the need for EV battery recycling plants, and reducing data centres’ carbon and water footprints
Next month, thousands of students in Hong Kong will receive their Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) results, marking the culmination of years of hard work in pursuit of a university place. For decades, higher education has been regarded as a pathway to social mobility and better career prospects. Yet, many young people today wonder whether this promise still holds true.
Since free education has been extended to 12 years in 2007, Hong Kong has built a highly educated workforce. The city’s literacy and educational attainment rates have improved significantly, contributing to its development as an international hub. However, as the number of university graduates continues to grow, graduate employment opportunities have not expanded at the same pace.
The issue is not whether the higher education is worth it. Rather, Hong Kong faces a growing mismatch between graduates’ skills and opportunities available in the labour market. Many young people find themselves in positions unrelated to their fields of study, while others struggle to secure employment that fully utilises their qualifications. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence may further intensify these pressures by transforming entry-level jobs.
Addressing this issue requires more than education reform alone. The government should place greater emphasis on creating quality employment opportunities for young people. Hong Kong’s unique position under “one country, two systems”, together with its role as a bridge between mainland China and the international community, gives it advantages in expanding opportunities for graduates.