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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.
Most public primary and secondary schools seeking NETs have decided to switch to the flexible scheme. Photo: Getty Images
Education in Hong Kong

New pay model for native English-speaking teachers risks lowering standards: group

Head of association for teachers says shift to lower packages may lead to educators with less experience and motivation.

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Banking & finance

Standard Chartered CEO apologises for ‘lower-value human capital’ remarks

United States

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

Singapore

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

Economists say the challenge faced by Singapore is whether AI training can keep pace with job losses and work redesign.

Office workers at the Raffles Place financial business district. Singapore has unveiled various measures to help workers cope with AI disruption. Photo: AFP
Hong Kong workers/labour rights

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

Readers call for the introduction of professional career coaching, a flexible ride-hailing framework, and more creativity for local restaurants.

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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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.

Industry leaders have called for priority hiring of local graduates to address a shrinking job market. Photo: Elson Li
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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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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Men work with the help of AI. Salaries of AI-savvy software engineers have shot up in Singapore. Photo: Shutterstock
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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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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Technicians train humanoid robots to perform manufacturing work at a facility in eastern China’s Zhejiang province. Photo: Getty Images
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.

Office workers in Singapore’s Central Business District. Photo: Shutterstock
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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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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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.

A jobseeker meets with a recruiter at a job fair in Shanghai on April 9. The job fair was for aged-care services. Nearly 50 organisations and enterprises offered more than 100 opportunities. Photo: Xinhua
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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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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Civil servants leave the office in Tamar during lunch hour. Photo: Jelly Tse
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.

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.

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.

Illustration: Craig Stephens
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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Construction workers in California in March. Photo: via AFP
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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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.

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