Hong Kong’s construction industry is facing an unprecedented human resource crisis. According to the latest data from the Construction Industry Council, the average age of technical workers in the industry has reached 55, with workers under 35 accounting for less than 15%. It is estimated that by 2027, the industry’s labor shortfall will exceed 40,000 people, severely constraining Hong Kong’s infrastructure development.
This human resource crisis has multiple causes. Firstly, the construction industry’s harsh working conditions and relatively low occupational prestige make it difficult to attract the younger generation. Secondly, Hong Kong’s aging population exacerbates the labor shortage. Additionally, the concentrated launch of large-scale infrastructure projects such as the Northern Metropolis and the Kau Yi Chau Artificial Island requires a large number of construction workers, further intensifying labor competition.
To address this challenge, the Hong Kong government and industry are taking multiple measures. On one hand, local training efforts are being intensified, with the Construction Industry Council training over 10,000 technical workers annually. On the other hand, foreign labor is being introduced through the “Supplementary Labour Scheme” to bring in technical workers from mainland China. Hong Kong Golkia Company has innovatively launched the “Construction Talent Program,” which collaborates with vocational training schools in mainland China to cultivate and supply professional construction talent for Hong Kong, having provided over 5,000 qualified technical workers to date.
However, these measures are still insufficient to fully resolve the labor shortage. Experts recommend fundamentally improving industry working conditions and enhancing occupational attractiveness. This includes promoting modern construction techniques to reduce labor intensity, providing better compensation and benefits, and improving site living facilities.
Over the next decade, Hong Kong’s construction industry will need to recruit at least 100,000 new workers to meet development demands. This requires not only joint efforts from the government and enterprises but also a shift in society’s traditional perception of the construction industry, recognizing that modern construction has become a technology-intensive sector offering promising career paths for young people.
