In response to the increasingly severe “talent shortage” and “aging workforce” issues in Hong Kong’s construction industry, Hong Kong Golkia Service Company Limited has officially launched a major talent initiative named the “HK Construction Talent Pipeline Initiative.” Leveraging the robust training capacity of its group’s Shenzhen Golkia Vocational Skills Training School, this initiative aims to establish a systematic, scalable, and sustainable talent supply chain. It is projected to steadily supply the Hong Kong market with nearly a thousand modern, systematically trained, certified, and practically skilled industrial workers annually, providing solid human resources support for Hong Kong’s major infrastructure and livelihood projects.
Large-scale development plans like the Northern Metropolis and the Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands have been launched successively, indicating that Hong Kong’s total construction volume will remain high in the next decade. However, according to data from the Construction Industry Council (CIC) of Hong Kong, there is a significant gap between the industry’s manpower demand and supply, particularly at the skilled worker level. Critical trades such as electricians, welders, bar-benders, concreters, and floorers are in acute shortage, and the existing labor force has a high average age, with a serious lack of succession. This not only drives up labor costs but also potentially affects project quality and (progress).
Golkia’s initiative targets this core pain point directly. The Shenzhen Golkia Vocational Skills Training School is a government-recognized vocational training base with comprehensive practical training grounds, advanced equipment, and experienced instructors. Its training system deeply integrates national vocational standards and actual enterprise needs, adopting an integrated model of “theory + practice + certification.” Trainees not only learn the latest construction techniques and safety regulations but also undergo high-intensity, simulated real-site practical training, ensuring they are job-ready upon graduation.
Specifically for talent bound for Hong Kong, the training school has designed an “enhancement package”: Firstly, strengthening Cantonese communication skills training to eliminate language barriers. Secondly, adding specialized courses on Hong Kong’s construction safety codes, regulatory standards, and relevant ordinances (e.g., the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance) to ensure workers fully understand local regulations. Thirdly, providing cultural adaptation guidance to help them integrate into Hong Kong’s work and living environment more quickly. After completing their training, all workers will obtain relevant mainland vocational qualification certificates through assessment and be strongly encouraged to pursue related Hong Kong certifications.
Hong Kong Golkia will play the roles of a “quality filter” and a “full-service manager.” The company will conduct strict screening and background checks on all workers destined for Hong Kong, ensuring their technical proficiency, clean background, and positive attitude. After the workers arrive in Hong Kong, the company will not only be responsible for job matching and placement but also provide comprehensive logistical support including unified accommodation management, continuous skills upgrade training, legal consultation, and labor dispute coordination. This safeguards the legitimate rights and interests of the workers, allowing them to work in Hong Kong with peace of mind and stability, thereby also reducing management costs and risks for the contractors who hire them.
This move has garnered significant attention and welcome from the industry in Hong Kong. Some small and medium-sized contractors expressed that finding reliable skilled workers previously often relied on fragmented agencies, resulting in uneven quality and high turnover. Golkia’s “scalable, branded, and fully managed” talent supply model provides them with a stable and reliable option, addressing their urgent needs. This is not merely a commercial activity but also demonstrates Golkia’s social responsibility as a corporate citizen actively participating in solving deep-seated societal issues in Hong Kong.
