Exclusive | 55% plunge in new hires as Hong Kong graduates face gloomiest job outlook in 5 years

University graduates in Hong Kong are facing the gloomiest employment market since 2021, with the number of available jobs plunging by 55 per cent in 2025 and the average salary of new hires increasing by only 0.5 per cent year on year.

A veteran human resources consultant attributed the sharp fall in entry-level jobs, which require significant investment and mentorship, to the rise of artificial intelligence and the uncertain economic outlook.

According to data from the Joint Institution Job Information System, an online job information system run by the city’s eight public universities, job vacancies in 2025 numbered only 30,798 – 55 per cent fewer than the 68,728 recorded the previous year.

The figure was the lowest over the past five years, even lower than the 63,543 jobs available in 2021 when the city was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The number of available jobs has been on a declining trend since 2024, which saw a 22 per cent drop from 2023, when there were more than 87,600 full-time graduate jobs available.

Annual salary growth was also diminishing.

The average monthly salary for graduate jobs in 2025 was HK$20,961, an increase of just HK$112 or 0.5 per cent from 2024, the smallest rise in recent years.

Source link

Visited 1 times, 1 visit(s) today

Architect André Fu’s insider guide to Hong Kong

Lunch at Duddell’s Duddell’s Dim sum at Duddell’s “I recently helped to renovate Duddell’s in Central, a one-Michelin-starred restaurant with a really fun dim-sum brunch. We took cues from Lingnan architecture for the design, reflecting Hong Kong as a place where different cultures are juxtaposed together. It’s part of an art and culture that is

2 February 2026

Opinion | Seat belt U-turn in Hong Kong another case of ill-fitting policy

People generally don’t like change. But if you have ever had to take the worst seat on a bus – lower deck, last row, middle seat – then you would have probably put on the seat belt to avoid being catapulted down the aisle should the driver slam on the brakes. And if you’re on

2 February 2026

BYD’s new generation ATTO3 has been launched in Hong Kong with an indicative price of 188,000 Hong Kong dollars.

BYD (01211.HK) announced that the 2026 model of its next-generation “ATTO 3” has officially launched in Hong Kong. Under the “One-for-One Replacement” scheme, the indicative price is set at HKD 188,000. While retaining the original platform, the new model enhances user experience through detailed upgrades. This facelift marks the third generation of the “ATTO 3,”

2 February 2026

Hong Kong steps up oversight of retail payments

The framework seeks to keep digital payments stable and efficient while holding major payment systems to consistent standards. / Credit: Sorbis via Shutterstock The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has outlined details of its updated regulatory regime for retail payment systems, reinforcing oversight of payment networks, clearing and settlement processes used by individuals and businesses.

2 February 2026

Ex-Hong Kong chief secretary Rafael Hui, jailed for graft, dies at 77

Rafael Hui Si-yan, a former Hong Kong chief secretary who was jailed for pocketing nearly HK$20 million from a prominent land developer, has died at the age of 77. “Mr Rafael Hui passed away at [Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital] peacefully on Sunday after a brave fight with an acute illness,” a source told the

1 February 2026

62% of Hong Kong Zoomers fear they can’t compete with AI: Chinese YMCA survey

More than 60 per cent of Hong Kong Zoomers fear they cannot compete with rapidly advancing artificial intelligence in the workplace, a survey has found. The survey by the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong also showed about 30 per cent of respondents did not know how to use AI tools, while only 11.5 per cent

1 February 2026

CK Hutchison faces limited legal options after Panama voids port rights: experts

Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings faces limited legal avenues to challenge a Panama court ruling that nullified its rights to operate two major ports at the country’s canal, while taking the case to the International Court of Justice will require Beijing to act on its behalf, a legal expert has said. Basil Hwang, managing partner

1 February 2026

Hong Kong back in global IPO spotlight after strongest January in years

Nearly 100 companies filed new listing applications in Hong Kong in January, marking a strong start to 2026 for initial public offering (IPO) activity. A total of 95 companies applied to list on Hong Kong’s main board, while one sought a place on the Growth Enterprise Market, which primarily served smaller and growth-stage firms, according

1 February 2026

Adidas concerned after woman complains fitting room opened twice at Mong Kok shop

Adidas has expressed concern over a woman’s complaint about a staff member and other customers opening the curtain of a fitting room at a Hong Kong branch on two occasions while she was inside, saying it would review its facilities and store operations. The German sportswear giant issued a response on Sunday, four days after

1 February 2026

Soaring Hong Kong rents: tenants pay more – and fight for shrinking space

For business owner Tracy Sung, flat-hunting in Hong Kong was complicated by two things – her pets and the intense competition in the rental market. Sung, who used to live in a 500 sq ft flat in Happy Valley, had to offer more than the landlord’s asking price to secure an 800 sq ft property

1 February 2026

Hong Kong tourism chief targets more than 50 million visitors in 2026

Hong Kong’s tourism chief has struck an upbeat note on tourist arrivals during Lunar New Year and expressed confidence that visitor numbers will cross the 50 million mark by the end of the year. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said she was optimistic about a year-on-year increase in tourist arrivals over

1 February 2026

Hong Kong’s public expenditure growth cannot exceed revenue rise: Paul Chan

Hong Kong’s public expenditure growth should not exceed that of its revenue despite signs of improving finances, Paul Chan Mo-po has said, while noting that the market expects increased government investment to speed up economic development. But the financial secretary on Sunday also painted a rosy picture for the city’s retail sector, revealing that sales

1 February 2026

Hong Kong’s SHKP rolls out 350 Sierra Sea flats after sell-outs in world’s priciest market

Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP), Hong Kong’s largest developer by market capitalisation, puts another 350 units on sale in its Sierra Sea project after four rounds of sold-out flats in January, reflecting returning buyer appetite in the world’s most expensive property market. The batch at phase 2B included 244 two-bedroom and 106 three-bedroom units, with

1 February 2026

Hong Kong road accident scam reports double to over 70 in a week: Chris Tang

The number of suspected scams involving unusually high and belated compensation claims for minor or non-existent traffic accidents in Hong Kong has doubled to more than 70 in less than a week, according to the security minister. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung told a radio programme on Sunday that the increase was recorded after

1 February 2026

‘Technical issue’ forces Hong Kong-bound Cathay flight to return to Kaohsiung

A Hong Kong-bound Cathay Pacific flight had to return to Kaohsiung after take-off on Sunday morning due to a technical problem, with around 200 passengers affected. A spokesman for Cathay Pacific confirmed flight CX449 returned to the Taiwanese city shortly after departure due to an unspecified “technical issue”. “We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused

1 February 2026

‘Soft resistance’ among 4 main national security threats to Hong Kong: Chris Tang

Hong Kong’s security minister has said the city currently faces four primary risks to its national security, with soft resistance being one of the most significant threats. Speaking on a radio programme on Saturday, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung also said the police national security hotline had drawn 1.1 million reports since its inception

1 February 2026

Art storage companies expand in Hong Kong amid government promotion of sector

Art logistics and storage companies are expanding in Hong Kong with an eye on the Greater Bay Area market, following the government’s pledge to make the city a world leader in the art trading sector. Crozier’s storage space across three locations in the city increased from about 60,000 square feet (5,600 square metres) to 95,000

1 February 2026

12 degrees Celsius in Hong Kong on Sunday but warmer days expected in week ahead

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Temperatures in Hong Kong fell to 12 degrees Celsius (54 Fahrenheit) on Sunday morning but the coming days are expected to be warmer, with the mercury projected to rise to 24 degrees on Friday,

1 February 2026

Opinion | Hong Kong must fix Tenants Purchase Scheme’s flaws before any relaunch

When Hong Kong’s Housing Authority launched the Tenants Purchase Scheme (TPS) in 1998, it embodied the city’s aspiration of home ownership for all. Then the chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, envisioned public housing tenants buying their flats at a discount, transforming renters into homeowners. That year, the first batch of 25,000 flats was rolled out. In

1 February 2026

Calls for stricter rules after bot bookers detected on Hong Kong sports app

Hong Kong authorities have uncovered robot-operated accounts booking public indoor sports venues just a week after a new anti-touting policy took effect, prompting experts to call for stronger measures against scalping. A Leisure and Cultural Services Department spokesman told the South China Morning Post that authorities had detected bots being used to book public indoor

1 February 2026

Exclusive | 55% plunge in new hires as Hong Kong graduates face gloomiest job outlook in 5 years

Related Article