Tackling Hong Kong's Brain Drain
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brain drain of a quarter of the city’s university-educated under-35s within the next five years on top of an expected shortage of skilled workers would be a very serious problem. How can Hong Kong prepare? The number of young people who plan to emigrate or study abroad has been rising because of social and political unrest and lack of confidence in the future. This will exacerbate the projected shortage of 34,600 skilled graduates in Hong Kong’s workforce by 2027 predicted in a 2019 manpower report from the Labour and 1 Welfare Bureau. 2
Several surveys have confirmed young people’s intention to leave, including this report. Indicatively, there has also been an increase of over 40% in the issue of Certificates of No Criminal Conviction since 2017. These are needed for emigration or study abroad. Nevertheless, the government has no proactive policy for retaining the city’s skilled workers nor for attracting skilled workers or students from overseas.
Key points from respondents ● 24.2% are planning to leave and work elsewhere ● 15.8% say they will work outside Hong Kong permanently.
Main factors when choosing destinations include: § Work-life balance: 41.5% § Emigration plans: 36.7% § Social and political stability: 34.9%
● 56.8% say they may decide to return under certain circumstances. Main reasons include: § Attractive pay: 41.6% § Improved protection of personal freedoms: 38.1% § Better development opportunities: 35.8%
● 47.4% would consider remote working for a Hong Kong employer if they were based outside Hong Kong. ● 42.9% would be willing to consider returning for stable jobs. ● 34.2% would consider returning for short-term jobs. Report No.58 HKFYG Youth I.D.E.A.S. Employment and Economic Development group Published title Tackling Hong Kong’s Brain Drain Respondents 1,135 under-35s with an undergraduate degree or a higher qualification; 20 who worked/are working/plan to work outside Hong Kong were also interviewed More details in Chinese yrc.hkfyg.org. hk/2021/03/15/yi058/ Enquiries Amy Yuen 3755 7037
In-depth interviews showed that those already living and working overseas think their development opportunities are much better than in Hong Kong. Most preferred being overseas because of Hong Kong’s current political climate and economic development outlook but would consider remote work for a Hong Kong organization or short-term employment in Hong Kong if they thought the experience would be helpful in future. Some prefer a work culture that provides more autonomy and flexibility, features that are more common overseas.
Comments from Youth I.D.E.A.S. think tank members Denis Huen, group convenor and Mandy Lai, group member “Local enterprises should make good use of
technology to improve workflow management so that more jobs can be done remotely. To retain young skilled workers, they could change their management culture, enhance employees’ autonomy and improve flexible work arrangements. The government should expand the scope of the ‘Technology Voucher Programme’ to help companies keep employees in different locations connected.”
Tony Lau and Frank Fan, group members “Mitigating the
impact of the brain drain includes offering young people incentives to return, encouraging a free two-way flow and making better use of diasporic youth. For example, enhanced 3 liaison by Hong Kong’s Economic and Trade Offices [HKETOs] with young skilled workers overseas would enable recruitment by local companies via a contact platform. The government should also launch an internship programme for Hong Kong youth who graduate overseas in order to encourage them to start their careers here.” 1.
lwb.gov.hk/en/other_info/mp2027_en.pdf
2.
businessinsider.com/poll-shows-60-percent-hong-kong-youth-want-to-leave-2021-4?r=US&IR=T
3. There are 12 HKETOs outside Greater China.
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