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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.
Industry leaders have called for priority hiring of local graduates to address a shrinking job market. Photo: Elson Li
Hong Kong economy

Calls grow to hire locals as graduate jobs decline amid AI, economic pressures

Industry leaders’ remarks come after minister says vacancies suitable for graduates fell from about 80,000 in 2022 to around 31,000 in 2025.

Singapore

Singaporeans refute lack of hunger stereotype, warn of ‘self-fulfilling bias’

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United States

US adds 115,000 jobs in April, but experts warn of hidden weakness

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Hong Kong transport

Letters | Rigid quotas will undercut Hong Kong’s ride-hailing service providers

Readers discuss the effort to regulate ride-hailing, how to best address the city’s mental health crisis, and potential problems linked to the Fanling Bypass.

The Uber app is seen opened on a mobile phone as a taxi drives past in Tsim Sha Tsui on May 16, 2025. Photo: Jelly Tse
Singapore

‘No longer nice-to-have’: AI skills boost Singapore software engineer pay by 25%

Companies are increasingly prioritising engineers who can work effectively with AI tools, especially in senior roles.

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Hong Kong workers/labour rights

Property management sector cites 25% guard shortage amid imported labour backlash

Scrutiny of employing imported workers comes after Richland Gardens says 31 guards from mainland China will be hired through government labour scheme.

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Singapore

Singapore PM reassures workers over AI fears, vows job opportunities

The city state cannot promise there will be no disruption from the new technology but it will protect every worker, the prime minister says.

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Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong speaks about the impact of AI on the economy in his May Day rally speech in the city state on Friday. Photo: YouTube
China jobs

Back to the factory? China to retrain 1 million jobless graduates as technicians

China aims to solve its graduate jobs crisis by sending academic students to vocational school. But many young people remain sceptical.

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Singapore

More Singaporeans are choosing jobs below their qualifications. Here’s why

A new survey shows 19.4 per cent of Singapore’s resident workforce had academic qualifications beyond what was required for their job in 2025.

US-China relations

Why tougher US visa rules for skilled foreign workers may end in ‘brain drain’

Trump administration is targeting several visa categories, including popular H-1B pathway, with bias towards fewer numbers and more revenue.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
China jobs

China outlines new labour protection plan for nation’s 200 million gig workers

The 12-point document pledges stronger protections for gig-economy workforce, which has rapidly grown amid China’s economic slowdown.

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A group of delivery riders for the Chinese online platform Meituan takes a break in Chongqing, southwest China. Photo: Getty Images
China jobs

China’s youth unemployment crunch deepens as record graduation season looms

China’s official youth jobless rate climbed to 16.9 per cent in March, with another 12.7 million graduates set to enter the job market this summer.

Artificial intelligence

Opinion | As AI evolves, school syllabuses must evolve with it

As artificial intelligence upends job markets and academic norms, we must go beyond the fear of change to redefine what it means to be educated.

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China jobs

Shanghai mobilises seniors to work longer amid China’s demographic crisis

With one in three residents above retirement age, Shanghai’s 28-department plan aims to mobilise retirees to offset shrinking payrolls and rising pension strains.

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A group of older Chinese people gather at Shanghai’s Fuxing Park. The city is now encouraging seniors to return to work. Photo: Shutterstock
Britain

BBC to slash 2,000 jobs in biggest redundancy drive in 15 years

The British broadcaster will axe 10 per cent of its workforce as it navigates ‘financial pressures’.

The viewfinder of a camera outside the offices of the BBC in London. Photo: AFP
Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong to slash over 10,000 civil service posts by mid-2027, minister vows

Civil service minister Ingrid Yeung says close to 60 per cent of cuts will be junior roles and about 3 per cent at senior level.

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Hong Kong politics

Tighter civil service disciplinary rules risk becoming excessive: union head

Federation of Civil Service Unions chairman raises concerns over civil servant retention amid efforts to deal with underperforming staff.

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Fashion

US$20 for a jacket, US$280 for tailoring. How demand for tailors is rising

Demand for professional sewers, dressmakers and tailors is growing in the US. Problem is, many are retiring and there are few to replace them.

Tailor Marco Lema, 35, of Ecuador, works on an embroidered shirt at Nordstrom headquarters in New York, Monday, March 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)
Hong Kong economy

Opinion | Hong Kong’s global future depends on diverse talent

To sharpen its competitive edge, the city must look beyond traditional borders to widen its narrowing talent pipeline.

United States

US adds 178,000 jobs in March but Middle East war ‘likely not incorporated’

Gains in a slumping market were about three times the forecast, thought to be linked to construction firms doing more in recent warm weather.

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The Philippines

How soaring fuel prices are pushing Filipino farmers to the brink

Farmer Elmer Ullani spent seven hours transporting his produce to a trading post, but says he has nothing left after paying for fuel.

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Philippine farmer Elmer Ullani spells out “Stop US-Iran War” with his cabbages after having to spend almost all of the money he had earned at the market to pay for the fuel needed to get him there and back. Photo: Facebook / Elmer Ullani
China trade

‘Careful scrutiny’ needed in China’s applications of AI: Jiang Xiaojuan

Stronger oversight needed as unchecked AI risks undermining jobs and data security, government advisers urge at the Boao Forum for Asia.

Threats of job displacement and data security challenges are sparking concerns in China. Photo: Shutterstock
Hong Kong economy

Editorial | Hong Kong graduates need to adapt to secure a job in the AI era

There is no point in lamenting AI’s rise. The focus must be on flexibility and learning to live with the technology.

China society

Opinion | Why China’s AI automation push is a risky social experiment

Without reforms to improve wages, housing access and childcare, automation could entrench a low-fertility crisis and destabilise the social contract.

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Education in Hong Kong

Opinion | Hong Kong’s education policy must reflect the innovative future it seeks

The city aims to be a leader in the creative and innovation industry, but how much of that vision is translated into its schools?

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More than 1,100 students from 38 kindergartens, primary, secondary and special schools join hands to create a horticultural display as part of the Hong Kong Flower Show at Victoria Park, on March 7. Photo: Eugene Lee
China jobs

China’s youth unemployment falls for sixth consecutive month in February

But young job-hunters say they are still struggling to find work in a testing post-holiday labour market amid rising global economic uncertainty.

Young people line up at career guidance booths during a job fair in Beijing on March 14 as China’s youth unemployment rate grows amid a testing post-holiday labour market. Photo: Reuters
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

While a survey shows that 82 per cent of Indonesian workers are happy, it also flags increasing burnout among them.

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