Job vacancies for college leavers have fallen massively in three years, with AI wiping out entry-level roles in administration and IT at the fastest rate
Hong Kong graduate job vacancies fall 61 percent as AI takes over
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The number of full-time job vacancies suitable for Hong Kong university graduates has plummeted by 61 percent over the past three years, with artificial intelligence emerging as the main cause.
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun told the Legislative Council this week that vacancies tracked through the Joint Institutions Job Information System fell from around 80,000 in 2022 to just 31,000 in 2025.
The drop has not been evenly distributed. Roles most vulnerable to automation have been hit hardest, with administration vacancies falling nearly 90 percent and information technology and programming positions dropping 80 percent over the same period. Sun described the widespread adoption of AI as having a direct impact on demand for entry-level positions, noting that all major global economies are facing a similar structural challenge.
A survey by the International Data Corporation found that more than 60 percent of enterprises worldwide expect to reduce entry-level hiring within the next three years due to AI automation, lending global context to what Hong Kong graduates are experiencing.
[See more: Mainland robotics firm Agibot launches major AI initiative in Hong Kong]
Despite the sharp decline in vacancies, Sun said the unemployment rate among university graduates has not increased significantly – suggesting many are finding work through other channels or extending their studies. A full report on AI’s impact on Hong Kong’s overall labour market and specific industries will be published in the fourth quarter of this year as part of the government’s mid-term Manpower Projections update.
On the education side, the eight University Grants Committee-funded universities will introduce 30 new academic programmes between 2025 and 2028 covering AI, cybersecurity and the creative industries. The government’s Employees Retraining Board will also be rebranded as “Upskill Hong Kong” later this year, with a new focus on helping highly qualified young people transform their careers and secure employment in emerging sectors.
