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Jobs

Jobs
News about job creation, job losses, labour disputes, wage trends and other developments from around the world with a focus on Hong Kong and China.
People gather at a port in Shizuoka prefecture, Japan, with Mount Fuji in the background. Photo: AFP
Japan

‘Poor’ foreigners not welcome? Japan bets on AI while upping visa fee

Critics say the fee rise is designed to keep ‘poor’ foreigners out, as Japan bets on AI and robots to plug its growing staffing shortfall.

Indonesia

Top of the world: why Indonesian workers are happiest in Asia-Pacific

Asean

Southeast Asia’s scam compound survivors suffer in stigma and silence

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United States

Meta plans to cut up to 20% of staff to fund AI infrastructure

If Meta settles on the 20 per cent figure, the lay-offs will be its biggest since 21,000 were made redundant in its ‘year of efficiency’.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg wears the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses during an event at the company’s headquarters in Menlo Park on September 17, 2025. Photo: Reuters
Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Funding cuts trigger calls for help on jobs from Hong Kong’s physiotherapists

Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association alarmed by hiring freezes and job losses at NGOs despite rising demand for services.

Hong Kong economy

Exclusive | Hong Kong job openings hit 6-year low in 69% of sectors amid AI’s ascent

Vacancies in 23 out of 33 job sectors, including IT and customer service, fell to their lowest number in six years.

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China consumption

Beijing urged to boost rural pensions as lawmakers fight for farmers’ fair share

Appeals highlight a long-standing lack of benefits for elderly citizens outside cities, and proposals include leveraging state assets and new taxes to bridge the vast disparity.

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An elderly Chinese farmer works a vegetable field in Anhui province. Photo: Getty Images
Hong Kong economy

Proposed 33% rise in MPF payments ‘may pile on business pressure, hit jobs’

But labour sector lawmaker calls for bolder increases in maximum income level threshold to meet statutory requirements and reflect rising salaries.

India

Boom times for India’s economy but opportunities remain uneven

Analysts caution that a significant portion of India’s workforce remains in relatively low-productivity and informal sectors.

United States

US sheds 92,000 jobs in warning sign for Trump’s economy

Unemployment crept up, while job numbers showed a surprise reversal from growth in the previous month.

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Workers rebuild a home in Altadena, California, on Friday. The US construction sector lost 11,000 jobs in February. Photo: AFP
China jobs

China should up education spending to help population adapt to AI era: economist

Prominent Chinese economist says it is imperative to ensure the next generation can withstand the changes being driven by AI.

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A humanoid robot waves to children at a kindergarten in China’s eastern Shandong province. Photo: Getty Images
Nepal

‘This is our moment’: Nepal’s Gen Z voters hope for ‘turning point’ in election

While all the parties have pledged economic growth and job creation, thousands are leaving Nepal each day in search of a better life.

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Thailand

‘Not going anywhere’: Thai workers in Israel refuse to flee despite Iran threat

Bangkok has been here before: 46 Thais died in the Hamas assault that started the Gaza war. Now it fears history may be repeating.

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Artificial intelligence

Outside In | Everyone agrees that AI is big. No one agrees on what comes next

Job fears, environmental strain and security threats are fuelling the botlash, yet experts remain divided over its net impact – and our ability to contain the risks.

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A protest against Elon Musk’s xAI, federal law enforcement agents, the deployment of the National Guard during the “Get Out of Memphis” protest in Tennessee, US, on October 4, 2025. Photo: AFP
Japan

Cash-for-tips scheme in Japan sparks debate over migrant rights

Backers argue tougher measures are needed to curb unauthorised employment, but migrant advocates fear unintended social consequences.

People walking at JR Mito station in Ibaraki prefecture in eastern Japan. Photo: Kyodo
China-EU relations

Opinion | Germany’s outreach to China signals a reckoning, rather than a shift

The German chancellor realises that while China poses a long-term economic challenge, the United States is currently the more disruptive partner.

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Japan

Clocking off: is Japan’s culture of overwork finally dying?

The average hours put in by Japanese workers are lower than those of their American and Italian counterparts.

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China education

China’s vocational degrees rising as students seek skills over prestige

Job-placement rates for vocational undergraduate colleges now outpace traditional universities, as youth unemployment drives pivot to more reliable employment path.

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Vocational undergraduate colleges in China have expanded rapidly, growing from just 15 during a pilot phase in 2019 to more than 100. Photo: Getty Images
Artificial intelligence

China’s tech giants pursue AI, semiconductor talent in US amid fierce rivalry

ByteDance, Baidu, Alibaba Cloud and MiniMax are among the firms now actively recruiting fresh talent in the US.

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Trade

Outside In | Try as it might, the US alone can’t reverse the tide of globalisation

Accounting for a significant share of world trade, Europe and Asia are far more decisive players in the fast-changing globalised economy.

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Hong Kong society

Editorial | Minimum wage rises must not leave behind city’s most vulnerable

As the economic pie grows, money-making companies can afford to do more so employees who are struggling get their fair share of return.

Cleaning workers on the job in Mong Kok on May 1, 2025. Photo: Jelly Tse
US-China relations

Opinion | US and China can again find common ground – in AI’s risks

If Beijing and Washington could meet in 1972 to manage a shared threat, today’s leaders can cooperate to shape the rules of AI.

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People use augmented reality headsets during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference at the Shanghai World Expo and Convention Center in Shanghai on July 28, 2025. Photo: AFP / Getty Images / TNS
Artificial intelligence

Opinion | How recent graduates entering the job market can outperform AI

As automation erodes cognitive and interpersonal skills, those who embrace the struggle of enhancing offline reasoning will thrive.

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Artificial intelligence

Letters | AI is taking an invisible toll on humans working alongside it

Readers discuss the mental health toll of AI adoption, early intervention in youth mental health, and ‘love intelligence’.

Ageing society

Opinion | Hong Kong should see the ‘silver economy’ as a golden opportunity

The city could reframe its ageing trend by working to become a global capital for ‘longevity finance’ and supporting East-West healthcare innovations.

An elderly woman sits on a chair on the road in front of a fruit and vegetable seller in a market in Causeway Bay in December 2024. Photo: Antony Dickson
Singapore

Singapore set for US$12 billion surplus as Wong unveils AI ambitions in budget

PM Lawrence Wong says while defence spending will be kept at about 3 per cent of GDP, Singapore is prepared to spend more if the need arises.

People relax on beach chairs along the boardwalk during sunset at Marina Bay in Singapore on February 9. Photo: AFP
Hong Kong politics

Opinion | Hong Kong’s civil service won’t benefit from a universal retirement age hike

The civil service needs nuanced refinements that prioritise quality over quantity, not mandates that threaten talent inflow and retention.

Artificial intelligence

Hong Kong executives trail employees in AI adoption: McKinsey

Just 14 per cent of Hong Kong executives use AI frequently, as companies face strategy, data and training barriers to wider adoption.

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