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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.
Workers climb down from a building during a heat advisory on Tuesday in New York. Photo: AP
United States

US jobless claims fall as lay-offs remain low despite economic uncertainty

Despite historically low lay-offs, the labour market appears to be stuck in what economists call a ‘low-hire, low-fire’ state.

Singapore

Singapore’s AI-job cuts debate flares over ‘lower-value human capital’ remark

Hong Kong workers/labour rights

Letters | Hong Kong must match worker to job. More training is not enough

Japan

Japan’s restaurant sector feels bite of sudden foreign worker visa freeze

The number of foreigners holding Type I visas in the food industry has reached roughly 46,000, on course to surpass the quota of 50,000.

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Diners visit a yakitori restaurant in Tokyo’s Asakusabashi district on April 15. Photo:AFP
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’

A recruiter’s comment on Singaporean workers supposedly lacking drive has sparked a fierce debate on evolving career goals and pay.

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United States

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

The gains mainly came in the healthcare, transport and warehousing and retail trade sectors.

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Hiring sign for sales professionals is displayed at a US store in Vernon Hills, Illinois. Photo: AP
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.

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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The owners’ corporation of Richland Gardens in Kowloon Bay has come under fire after announcing that 31 guards from mainland China would be hired through a government labour scheme. Photo: Handout
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’.

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.

A union leader has cautioned that increasing pressure on frontline staff could further strain morale, particularly among younger recruits. Photo: Elson Li
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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